January 22, 1929 – April 20, 2023
It is with deep sadness that the family of Joan Henry announce her passing on April 20, 2023 at Chartwell Wellington Park, Guelph, due to natural causes at age 94.
She is survived by seven children; Michael (Hariette), David (Dawn), Susan (late Jack), Alan (Lynne), Jim (Lauren), Barbara (John), and Chris (Andrea), seventeen grandchildren Laura (Mark), Peter (Patricia), Jordan (Angela), Mark, Kathryn (Jeff), Elizabeth (Rosbin), Patrick (Tracey), Andrew, Matthew, Aaron, Alexa (Remy), Joshua, Saharrah, Hayley (James), Jenna, Chiara, and Caden and eight great grandchildren; Eleanor, Amelia, Liam, Cian, Jack, Ray, Payton, and Cohen. She is survived by her sisters Janet (Jerry), Carol (late Bill),Margo (Ed), brothers Brian (Marg) and Alan (Glenna), sisters-in-law Eileen and Ruth Ann (Ross), and many nephews and nieces.
Joan was happily married to Ron for 68 years until his death in 2021. She is also predeceased by her parents, Jim and Eleanor, brother Arnold, sister Marilyn, sister-in-law Jo, brothers-in-law Rae and Frank, son-in-law Jack and grandson Trevor.
Joan was born and raised in Charlottetown, P.E.I. and graduated from Prince of Wales College in 1947. She worked for a few years in Charlottetown before joining the RCAF in 1951. She met Ron when they were both stationed at RCAF London, ON. They were married in 1953 in the station chapel.
Ron continued in the RCAF and they built their family as they moved from station to station across Canada including postings at Aylmer, ON., Camp Borden, ON, Centralia, ON, Rivers, MB, and Summerside, PEI. They finally settled in Guelph when Ron retired in 1975.
Joan was a true Islander and held PEI close to her heart. She and Ron made an annual month-long visit to the Island every summer for more than 25 years to reconnect and to visit relatives and friends.
She was immensely proud of her family and would extol the accomplishments of children and grandchildren to all who would listen. She loved nothing better than to have her whole family around her for birthdays, weddings and family reunions.
Joan was also an avid bridge player and played duplicate bridge regularly at the Guelph Bridge Club until Covid restrictions led to its temporary closure. She was still playing bridge (and winning) at her retirement residence into the last month of her life.
She was a woman of her time, a housewife, homemaker and a prolific baker. She is remembered fondly for her many treats and especially for her “pink squares” which were always in great demand by the family.
Joan was also an Avon sales rep and enjoyed working in retail at a Yumz store later in her life.
She served in the local Catholic Women’s League as a member and as president. She was also involved in the church and sang at weddings, funerals and Sunday masses.
The family would like to thank the dedicated caregivers who cared for Joan with kindness and dignity during her last two years. This includes the caregivers at Chartwell Wellington Park and Bayshore Home Health.
A funeral mass will be held on Thursday April 27, 2023 at 10:30 am at Holy Rosary Church, 175 Emma Street, Guelph. Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Society
A tree will be planted in memory of Margaret J. Henry in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.