Joan Platt Walker

To Joan Walker, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Joan, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Joan really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

      Joan was born on September 23, 1937 in Toronto, Ontario. Her parents were Evelyn and Fred Platt. Joan was raised in Dunbarton. Even as a child, Joan had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

      Always a good playmate, Joan was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Joan managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Joan was raised with one older sister, Norma.

      All of Joan's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Joan experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in figure skating. In her spare time she liked roller skating.

      Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Joan was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Joan simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Joan, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Joan's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favourite classes and teachers. Joan attended Dunbarton High School.

      Joan never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Joan to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Joan delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Joan was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Joan utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Later in life, she became friends with GiGi. Joan loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Joan very easy to approach. On September 30, 1961 Joan exchanged wedding vows with Charles Donald Walker at St. Margaret's in the Pines of Westhill, Ontario. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

      Perhaps the reason Joan related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Joan was blessed with two sons, Bradley and Brian. They were also blessed with five grandchildren, Sarah, Rebecca, Joanna, Kenny and Eric. Joan had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Joan's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Joan had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

      Joan enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. Her favourite pursuits were playing the slots at Ajax Downs. Joan was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

      Joan felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Joan loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Joan relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Joan never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Recreational sports included golf.

      Living life in the fast lane suited Joan just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favourite vacations included Vegas.

      Joan was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. One of Joan's favourites was her dog, Daisy. They were best friends for 15 years.

      Joan passed away on December 6, 2012 at Lakeridge Health in Oshawa, Ontario. She is survived by her husband Don, her sons Bradley and Brian, her grandchildren Sarah, Rebecca, Joanna, Kenny and Eric, and her sister Norma. Services were held at Oshawa Funeral Home.

      Joan brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Joan Walker lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.

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WALKER, Joan Ann

Passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 6th, 2012, with family by her side at the Lakeridge Health Oshawa in her 76th year. Dearly beloved wife of Don for 51 years. Loving mother of Bradley (Sheila) and Brian (Helen). Cherished grandmother of Sarah, Rebecca, Joanna, Kenny and Eric. Dear sister of Norma Singer (Ray). Sadly missed by her family and friends. Visitation will be held at OSHAWA FUNERAL HOME, 847 King Street West (905-721-1234) on Monday, December 10th from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. and on Tuesday, December 11th from 10:00 a.m. until time of Funeral Service in the Chapel at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Kidney Foundation.