Joan passed away peacefully on Thursday November 28, 2024, at Campbell House, Collingwood, at the age of 85.
Joan of Wasaga Beach, cherished mother of Barrie (Doris) and Kate (Sean). Loving grandmother of Bridget (Adam), Reilly (Lindsay), Isaac, Galen (Meryl) and Kim Rebecca. Special great grandmother of Blake, Quinn and Elliot. Dear sister of Bill and spouse Evelyn Sutherland.
Joan was born to Ross and Ruth Sutherland in Snowflake, Manitoba, April 25th, 1939. They moved to Port Moody, BC, where Joan and Bill grew up in the house that their Mom and Dad built. Joan came to Ontario as a young woman and started her family in 1959. While raising her two children, she acquired her teaching credentials and obtained her Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English, and then her Teacher Librarian certification. She taught in Scarborough, a one room schoolhouse in Minesing and for the majority of her career at Stayner Collegiate, as Librarian and english teacher.
She was an independent woman, an avid reader and an enthusiastic contributor to her family's adventures; sports events, beach trips, cottage excursions, celebrations and just being together. She was involved in her community as a member of the YMCA, various book clubs, the hiking club, the Red Hats and Probus. She enjoyed travelling or just having a coffee with her good friends Liz and Fran. She loved her porch on the water where she, until the end, looked for her swans daily and enjoyed the antics of the hummingbirds and rabbits who frequented her yard.
The family would like to thank all the professionals who assisted in keeping Joan at home for as long as possible and her long time neighbours Sue and Russell, who always looked out for her. The family's gratitude also goes to the wonderful staff at Georgian Triangle Hospice who so lovingly cared for her in her last week and showed such generous compassion.
Friends are invited to join her family at the Carruthers & Davidson Funeral Home, Wasaga Beach Chapel, on Wednesday December 4, 2024 from 2 to 4 p.m. for a memorial gathering; words of remembrance at 3 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. If desired, a donation to Hospice Georgian Triangle Foundation or The Friends of the Wasaga Beach Public Library would be appreciated.
Joan's contagious smile will be missed by all, and remembered always.
To sign Joan’s Book of Memories, please visit www.carruthersdavidson.com