Joan took her final sail into the sunset suddenly and peacefully with her loving family by her side on the 17th of February 2020 in her 96th year. There aren’t words to capture the essence of this remarkable woman. Born in Kitchener On she moved to Halifax in 1946 and met the love of her life. With her husband Don, she supported the Maritime Chapter of the Canadian Paraplegic Association her entire life. A U of T Occupational Therapy class of 46 graduate she was a founding member of the NS Society of Occupational Therapists. She could fix, modify or make anything to suit a need. She was a member of St Paul’s Anglican Church becoming its first female warden. Together she and her husband Don shattered barriers for those following after them. A member long standing of the RNSYS, she fell in love with the ocean and skippered her beloved Seaquester on adventures for the storybooks. Oh the stories she told! She loved a good card game with bridge and poker friends, always eager for any excuse for a party of which there were many. She was a talented artist gifting us with her special Christmas cards each year which we treasure. She loved life fully without regrets and had the rare gift for living in the present. She was an accomplished athlete, a gifted artist, a humble humanitarian and an inspiration for many who had the honour of knowing her. We still had so much to learn from her. We will miss her forever.
She was predeceased by her parents Frank and Marguerite Ellis, brothers Robert and Frank (Jack), sister Dorothy, husband Donald and son Stephen. She is survived by her son Hugh, daughter-in-law Susan, grand children Grace and Ted (Halifax) with whom she had a special bond, grand children Walter, Stephanie, great grandchildren Stephen, William, Colin, Celine (Truro) and many nieces and nephews who she treasured. There will be a family service at St Paul’s Anglican Church on Tuesday March 3rd at 11am with interment at a later date. We invite friends and family to join us in a celebration of this remarkable life on Friday March 6th at 2pm at the RNSYS Saraguay House on the Purcells Cove Rd.
If you wish, donations in her memory can be made to the Canadian Paraplegic Association or a charity of your choice.
“The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change, the realist adjusts the sails”. Joan has adjusted her sails, fair winds mom!
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