Joan passed away on Monday January 18th, at Soldier Memorial Hospital, in her 84th year. Joan was born in a small town in northern Ontario called Westree. She was a premature baby born only 2 pounds 2 ounces.
She was a registered nurse that trained at Soldiers Memorial hospital as well as Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. She eventually got a job at Huronia Regional Center in Orillia and stayed working there her entire career. She made many long-time friends while she worked there. She retired in 1993 after 33 years.
During her retirement, she found her time spent with many of her friends, meeting at Timmies for tea and a chat, that usually turned into lunch. She went to the Tie club to play cards twice a week then she would end off the week with dinner with friends at the Moose. Weekends were for Craft sales or visiting with her daughters and her grandkids. She was also a member of the Orillia Legion.
She loved to sew and was a respected crafter amongst many craft shows including the Elmvale Maple Syrup Festival as well as Sunderland Maple Syrup festival and many local farmers markets. She was well known for making her "scrubbies" and her cloth books. She also made many other knit or crochets crafts such as dish cloths, tea towels, baby blankets, baby sets and placemats. Her crafts were sent to many people all over the world.
She met James O’Brien an electrician while she worked at HRC. They were married on November 25, 1960. He passed way in 1981 after a length illness. She remarried years later after meeting Frank Jones who also worked at HRC. They were only married a short time as he passed away from cancer. She remarried again this time to Ron Bagshaw and they were married for 13 years. He also passed away. She was a loving partner and caregiver to each of her husbands. Joan raised her daughters Janet MacKenzie (Doug) of Barrie and Joyce Tomkinson (Kelly) of Muskoka. She was a loving Nana to Matthew MacKenzie (Tara) of Midland, Jason MacKenzie (Charlene) of Barrie and Shannon MacKenzie of Barrie; Morgan Tomkinson of Barrie, Samantha Tomkinson of Campbell River, British Columbia and Kale Tomkinson of Muskoka.
Great Grandmother to Carly (Morgan’s daughter), Mason (Mathew and Tara's son), Lex (Matthew and Tara’s son), Asher (Matthew and Tara’s son) and Tristan (Jason and Charlene’s son)
Graveside ceremony will be held in spring/early summer at the Little Brick Cemetery in Oro Station.
Joan always loved her animals, so in lieu of flowers please support the Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital or the SPCA - Orillia Branch. Arrangements entrusted to the Mundell Funeral Home, 79 West St., N., Orillia.