We Remember

JOHNSON, Joan Margaret (née Duncan)

It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that the family of Joan Johnson announces her sudden passing at the age of 81 years. Joan suffered a massive stroke and passed peacefully on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 with loved ones by her side.

Predeceased by her loving husband of 39 years, Murray Neil Johnson (1999), Joan will be forever remembered by her three children and eight grandchildren: Paul (Margaret), Jesse, Madison, Nicholas, Lauren; Allison, Evan, Justin; Colin (Brandie), Scotia and Ainsley. Many lasting friendships were created along Joan’s life journey and she will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by her extended family and countless friends.

Joan was born to Ronald Ray Duncan and Sara Isabelle Duncan (Briggs) in Port Alberni, BC on October 6, 1938. Joan spent the first few years of her life in Bamfield, BC, and later moved with her family to Vancouver. After graduating from King Edward High School, Joan enrolled in the Fine Arts program at the Vancouver School of Art and this is where she met her future husband and love of her life, Murray. Joan continued her education to become an elementary school teacher; a job of which she loved and taught primarily grade 2. Murray and Joan married on April 21, 1960. The newlyweds moved to Cranbrook where they started their family, and over the course of the next few years they moved to Prince George, Vancouver, Vernon and finally settled in Kelowna in 1978. Within each community they lived they gained lifelong friends.

Joan loved her life and lived it well. Her smile and infectious laugh could brighten up anyone’s day. She had a kind and generous nature, wonderful sense of humour, loved dinner parties with family (lasagna) and friends (theme nights), enjoyed travelling the world and spending endless days on the dock at the family cabin on Okanagan Lake. She enjoyed singing in her church choir, daily walks with her dog (Kirstie), photography, movies and reading. Above all, Joan had a profound love for her family and would do anything for them.

To adhere to COVID-19 protocols, a private interment service for immediate family members will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 with Reverend Ivy Thomas officiating. It is such a strange time to grieve the loss of this wonderful woman without her many family and friends being able to gather. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family by scrolling down the page to the area called “Condolences”.

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