Peacefully, in her sleep and surrounded by her loving family, Joan passed away after a long and courageous struggle with ovarian cancer, on October 10, 2018. Joan was the high school sweetheart and dearly beloved wife of Chris, mother of Carolyn (Adam Parker) and Kelly (David Tuttle) and adoring grandmother of Kaylee, Abbey, Wesley and Avery, daughter of Jack and Isabel Smith, sister of Judy (Ross Marsden) and sister-in law to Bob (Annie Pejovich). Joan was born in Toronto, attended Lambton Kingsway Public School and Etobicoke Collegiate Institute where she and Chris became an inseparable couple. Joan graduated from St. Michael’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1971 and quickly got a job at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Over the course of her 40-year career in paediatric nursing, she worked for Dr. Ken Phillips at his nearby office on Bloor Street, a job she shared with her sister Judy (also a nurse). Joan spent the last 20 years working in the paediatric wing at Etobioke General Hospital.
Married in October of 1972, and after a brief stint living in Brampton, Ont., Joan and Chris returned to Etobicoke where they would raise a wonderful family in the city she loved. While Joan was a private person, the warmth of her heart shone through in many ways. She was a remarkably talented artist whose gift for creating beauty was often shared with friends and family over the years and will forever be remembered. As much as she loved her hometown, her favourite place was the family cottage in Copp Bay on the Severn River, where she spent her summers from the time she was ten years old. Friends and family would gather for dinners and bay parties – and she watched her children and grandchildren grow in the paradise that she grew to love so much. Joan’s love of gardening shone through at the cottage where she further demonstrated her artistry, magically growing beautiful gardens on the barest of rock. Sharing that beauty with her family and neighbours brought Joan great pleasure and enjoyment. The Chant gardens were admired by all around the bay. Over the years Joan and Chris shared a deep love of travel with trips to Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, China, Africa and cruises throughout Mediterranean Europe and the Caribbean. Above all was Joan’s love for her grandchildren. Like sparkling stars, Kaylee, Abbey, Wesley and Avery brought joy to Joan like nothing else. Perhaps her favourite thing in life was the buying and giving of gifts to each of them, regardless of the occasion, she just loved to show them how very special they were to her and how much she loved them. Joan will be sorely missed by all, but particularly by Chris who met the girl of his dreams at a very young age and was lucky enough to spend 46 wonderful years with her. She meant the world to him.
Chris and the family would like to extend special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Dorothy Ley Hospice and Princess Margaret Hospital, particularly Dr. Amit Oza, Dr. Stephanie Lheureux and Dr. Madeline Li, all of whom provided wonderful and gracious care throughout Joan’s journey. A celebration of life will be held on Friday October 19, 2018 from 3:00 – 6:00p.m. at Islington Golf Club, 45 Riverbank Drive in Etobicoke. Remarks at 4:00p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joan’s memory to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation or the Dorothy Ley Hospice in Etobicoke are appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to Turner & Porter, Butler Chapel (416 231-2283). On line condolences may be made through www.turnerporter.ca