On Wednesday, January 4th, Joanne Elizabeth Meis died peacefully in Calgary, Alberta after living with dementia for many years. Joanne was a nature, music and art lover. She adored walks in the mountains, bird watching, making and teaching music, as well as painting and drawing. Joanne was creative. She was lively and savoured the sweet things in life.
Joanne was born on November 28, 1944 in Vancouver, British Columbia while her father was posted there to assist with the war effort. She spent most of her childhood in Calgary, and met her future husband, Scott Meis, while attending high school. They pursued their graduate studies at the University of British Columbia and were married in 1969. Joanne studied English at the undergraduate and graduate levels and spent a few years teaching before taking on a career in music. Joanne's first son, Simon, was born in Vancouver in 1975 before the family moved to Ottawa where her second son, Tobias, was born in 1979.
In her youth, Joanne learned to play the flute, and she got her first harp when she arrived in Ottawa. As a harp teacher, her community grew into a vibrant musical scene, and she formed her first harp choir. Joanne played at many events, recorded several albums, and brought a musical atmosphere with her wherever she went. When Joanne returned to Calgary in 1999, she started another harp community and harp choir, and she found dedicated students to continue her legacy.
As a musician, Joanne became a member of many groups, including (but not limited to) the Flood Road Philharmonic, the Ottawa Ceili band, the Ottawa Flute and Harp Duo, and the Fiddle Free Celtic Ensemble. Joanne's music lives on in the arrangements she wrote and pieces she composed. Many of these are still played far and wide.
As an artist, Joanne was inspired by nature from a young age. Her early studies of birds grew into a large collection of landscapes in both watercolour and acrylic. She was always ready to try a new medium or a new project.
Joanne was loving, thoughtful, warm, and had an infectious laugh. She also had a feisty streak, and friends will remember her way of speaking her mind; caring for a diversity of pets including snakes, birds, and iguanas; and trying to keep cats out of the backyard.
She loved to travel and had the opportunity to hike in the mountains, sail on the B.C. coast, cruise the Mediterranean, explore Greece, and listen to traditional music in Ireland and beyond. Joanne loved to read, play Scrabble, play music with her partner Frank, spend time with her parrot Barney, and enjoy as many sweet treats as possible, often with a chai latte in hand.
Joanne spent the last years of her life in care where she met many people and built special relationships, including with her caregivers at St. Teresa, as well as Cheryl and Pam.
We will remember Joanne's strength, courage, originality, and loving nature.
Joanne was predeceased by her parents Dick and Beth Hoar. She is survived by sons Simon Meis (Jaime Hood) and Tobias Meis (Jennifer Kingsley); partner Frank Phillips; brother Alan Hoar (Cathy Yohimas), as well as her nieces and their families.
A celebration of Joanne's life will take place on Saturday, January 21st, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Foster's Garden Chapel at 3220 4th St. NW, Calgary, Alberta.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, or the Calgary Philharmonic Society.
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