April 7, 1931-June 21, 2914
Winnifred Joan Burnard nee Marshall passed away June 21, 2014. Predeceased by her loving husband Jim, she is survived by 2 sisters: Mary (Perrault) and Margaret (Bates), both of Prince George; and 3 children: Linda (Chris) Hogarth, Jenny (Gary)Houg and Tish (Tom) Langdon. Her 3 sons-in-laws and 6 grandchildren - Ryan and David Hogarth, Derek, Carly and Keith Houg, and Robert Langdon were the apple of her eye.
Joan was born April 7, 1931 in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. After moving to British Columbia, she and her sisters spent their youth on the shores of Okanagan Lake in Trout Creek, BC. Joan, an excellent swimmer, found summer work as a lifeguard. She loved canoeing and had a wonderful singing voice (which she neglected to pass on to her daughters). Oblivious to that fact, campfires and car trips were always occasions for enthusiastic singing by the entire family.
After marriage Joan and Jim lived in Ocean Falls, Campbell River and finally, at Saratoga Beach - in a house that Joan designed. It filled regularly with grandchildren, family, assorted pets and friends.
Joan served as a Red Cross nurse in her youth and later, after her children had grown, became the supervisor of Peter Pan preschool. In retirement she and Jim travelled throughout Canada and abroad. Joan, with Jim on the oars, became a regular on the Tyee Pool. She loved to garden. She saw beauty where others didn’t and found happiness making others happy. She relished life and when it came to her family, had the protectiveness of a mother bear.
Family and friends are invited to a gathering in memory of Joan at 7866 Sturgess Road in Black Creek on Saturday, July 12 at 2:00 p.m.