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January 22, 2009

Joan McGinnis 2 Sept 1916-22 Jan 2009

My mother
Joan McGinnis
2 Sept 1916-22 Jan 2009



My mother passed away early this morning. I saw her yesterday in the hospital. When I went to kiss her goodbye, it was difficult to manouever around her tubes and machines. She tried to raise her head, and my glasses hit her cheek. She laughed at our bumping of heads. As I left she smiled and waved. I'm glad I have that nice last memory of her. This is her obituary:

Joan Dorien Edith McGinnis passed away peacefully in Lakeridge Health Hospital in Bowmanville Ontario on Thursday January 22, 2009. She was 92 years old. Born in Guelph Ontario on 2 September 1916 to parents Charles Fuller & Ruth Simpson, she married Cecil McGinnis (who predeceased her in 1960) in Guelph in 1936.

Joan moved to Ajax Ontario and worked in the Munitions Factory during WW2, then as a Medical Secretary. She later lived in a Winnebago with her mother and sister Lillian, travelling throughout Canada and USA. In later years she moved to British Columbia with her companion Godfrey Harwood (who pre-deceased her in 1994), then returned to Whitby Ontario where she lived with her sister Lillian Bonar (who pre-deceased her in 2004). Joan lived on her own in an apartment in Whitby until her death. In recent years Joan joined a Writing Club and was working on her memoirs when she fell ill.

At age 80, Joan became an avid traveller and journeyed to many places including Australia, China, S. Africa, Russia and England. On her last trip to Australia at age 85 she hiked and camped in the Australian outback. Joan lived life to the fullest and leaves behind 2 sons Larry & David, 2 daughters Charleen & Lorine, a younger sister Eileen and an uncle Walter. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren are numerous.

28 comments:

S. Lincecum said...

My condolences. The slideshow and obituary are beautiful and show your mother lived life to the fullest.

Becky Thompson said...

Please accept my sincere sympathies! You've posted a beautiful tribute to her. Thank you for sharing this much of her with us. You will be in my prayers!

Taylorstales-Genealogy said...

My sincerest sympathy on the loss of your beloved mother. May the wonderful memories and stories of her help you find some peace.

Kathryn Lake Hogan said...

Dear Lorine,
I am so sorry to learn of the loss of your mother, Joan. You have posted a beautiful tribute to her with the slideshow and her obituary. I am praying for you and your family.
Kathryn

Velda said...

What a beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing her with us. I'm so very sorry for your loss.

Velda
ontario

GrannyPam said...

Losing my Mother was certainly the largest challenge I've faced so far in my life. May God bless and keep you, and your family, and may your memories sustain you until you meet again.

Unknown said...

I was sorry to hear about your Mum. I know she loved life and lived it to the fullest. I always enjoyed her company.

Jack

Miriam Robbins said...

Lorine, I'm glad, too, that your last memory was a happy one. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Hugs,
Miriam

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...

Lorine,
I am very sorry for your loss. The obituary is perfect, it tells us so much about her.
Apple

Debbie Blanton McCoy said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Debbie

BDM said...

Lorine, my sympathy for your loss. What an interesting life your mother had and what admirable spirit! A great role model, truly. Rest in peace, Joan.

Thomas MacEntee said...

Lorine - I'm thinking of you and your family right now and I am marveling at what a great tribute you've provided here.

Thomas

Jasia said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time, Lorine. I'm very sorry for your loss. What a dynamic woman your mother was! Your grief must be great. Time and good memories will see you through.

Jasia

Amy Coffin, MLIS said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Janet Iles said...

My sincere sympathy to you and your family. Your mother sounds like she was a terrific person.

Thank you for sharing this tribute to her with your readers.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Unknown said...

Lorine, I am so sorry for your loss. Reading your story, I was amazed at your mother's energy and sense of adventure, extending late into her life, and touched by your obvious love for her!

Be well.
Keri

Unknown said...

Our condolences on the passing of your mother.

Anonymous said...

Lorine I am so sorry to hear about your Mom,and it is so nice you had her with you for so long.
God bless you and may she rest in peace
Aline Cormier

Sheri Fenley said...

Lorine,
To know that she lived and full and wonderful life is comforting. But the loss is still a huge thing. Prayers and hugs are all I can offer you at a time like this.

Sheri Fenley

Anonymous said...

Dear Lorine,

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful tribute for your Mom. Do you look like your Mom? Wow, she could have been a Movie Star! So attractive..

We appreciate everything that you have done for all of us through- out the years.

You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Jerri in California

Anonymous said...

Lorine,

Thank you for sharing your mother with us. She sounds like a wonderful, adventurous, and energetic lady! You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.

June Schultek

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful tribute to your mother. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Linda Shea

Anonymous said...

We are thinking about you and your family during this time of loss.
Lovely comments about your grandmother, she loved to travel, it seems.
Thinking about you

Wendy and Scott Pigden

Anonymous said...

Dear Lorine,

What a beautiful tribute you have given your beautiful mother. As long as you keep her in your heart and thoughts and prayers, she will never truly die. The sharp edges of your grief will eventually go away and her last smile will bring smiles to your own face. God Bless You and dear Joan.
Rose Mary Hughes

Tex said...

What a loving tribute. Wonderful pics and the perfect obit. Thank you for sharing your mum with us.

Andrea Christman said...

What a loving tribute. You have been such a wonderful source of inspiration for many of us searching for our family history, I hope you get comfort from all the people out there who have you in our thoughts and prayers.

~Andrea

Anonymous said...

My sincere condolences to the McGinnis family and descendants. Joan was an amazing woman, and our trip to Europe in 1976, was so full of adventures, and mis-adventures, it still makes me laugh, thanks to Joan's "Oh well" attitude in all things.

bobbih2u said...

A beautiful tribute to your Mom and you have my deepest condolences. It's never easy loosing your parent and I'm glad you have that last happy memory with her.