Saturday, January 26, 2019
I will miss Aunt Joan and her kind heart, generosity, and humour. Growing up in Windsor, I remember well the Sunday afternoon dinners and wonderful Christmas celebrations which the family shared at her home on Lincoln Road in the Walkerville area of the city. Aunt Joan, her sister Emily, and their parents were very generous with their Christmas and birthday gifts to my family. Aunt Joan attended King George Public School and Walkerville Collegiate. It was a different era back then, when the border, industrial city of Windsor was home to her large, extended family. Aunt Joan spent over three decades working for Bank of Montreal at Walkerville Branch. She was an indispensable member of the staff, and in today’s work environment could have been a branch manager. I remember with fondness those visits to her office, when I was a youngster. In the 1950’s, during her mid-20’s, Aunt Joan put her career on hold, to assist with the care of her mother Emily, who had suffered a stroke. This caring attitude continued in later life as she and her sister Emily looked after their father as he aged. In her early adult life Aunt Joan enjoyed excursions as far as Toronto and Florida to spend time with relations. By middle age, she preferred the surroundings of southwest Ontario with visits to a cottage on Lake Huron, car rides exploring Essex County, walks around Windsor and Point Pelee National Park, plus trips to Amherstburg for her favourite ice cream. Aunt Joan was very close to Emily, her sister and close friend, whose illness and subsequent passing in 2011 was deeply felt. When daily life became difficult, Aunt Joan moved into her final home, a long-term care residence in Windsor, where she was a lively nonconformist. Thank you for all you gave to the family, asking nothing in return. Rest in peace with your parents, sister, and brothers.
