JOAN MARY ANN ARMITAGE (published on September 20, 2008)
| JOAN MARY ANN ARMITAGE July 3, 1945 - September 9, 2008 Joan Armitage passed away at the age of 63 years at Three Hills Hospital after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. Joan was born in Winnipeg and was the only child of Henry and Mildred Smith (Gable). She started kindergarten and attended grades one and two at Margaret Scott School. At the age of eight her family moved to a different house about nine blocks away and she started grade three at another school just around the corner and attended until grade six where she met two of her dearest friends, Marge and Phyllis who, after 50 plus years, they are friends to this day. When finishing elementary school Joan went to Aberdeen Junior High and then to Sisler and St. Johns High Schools. Joan met Wayne in June 1960 and became an item . They were married at St. Johns United Church in Winnipeg in March of 1964. They had four children, Randy and Brenda born in Winnipeg, Patrick born in Flin Flon, and Kelly born in Lynn Lake, Manitoba. They moved to Lynn Lake in June 1968 where Wayne worked in the mine until he got an electrical apprenticeship. They lived in Lynn Lake (sometimes called heaven) until the summer of 1974 when they moved to Fort McMurray, Alberta where they worked and raised their children. While in Fort McMurray, Joan worked at St. Paul's Elementary School for 19 years as a librarian. They moved to Three Hills in June of 1995. All the children had left home by then so they had a big house and no kids. Upon arriving in Three Hills she took a position at Greentree Elementary School in Drumheller and drove back and forth for almost 10 years. After leaving Greentree Elementary, Joan met several new friends that she wasn't able to do while spending long days in Drumheller and then driving home. She also had some great friends in Drumheller but found it difficult living in one town and working in another. You could never spend the time doing friend things in either place. When Wayne and Joan moved to Three Hills, they also moved both their mothers from Winnipeg. Wayne's mother is in Trochu and Joan's mother is in Three Hills. Joan learned that she really enjoyed golfing and one of her favourite times was camping and golfing at Rosebud. She also did a little curling when she was able and at both the curling and golf clubs she made even more friends and acquaintances. Gardening was also one of her passions and she took pride in having her yard look nice. Over the years she volunteered as a secretary to the home and school in Fort McMurray, coached power skating, helped with the Junior Forest Wardens, and acted as secretary for the Fort McMurray Hospital Auxiliary, volunteered in Three Hills on the Library Board. She enjoyed doing crafts, woodworking, tole painting, and was extremely talented at all of them. She was a very organized and creative woman. Joan was an only child and for her the very absolute most important thing in her life was her family which included her dog Murphy . Joan was predeceased by her father Henry in 1958, and son-in-law, Scott in 1992. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Wayne, son Randy (Kelly) of Ottawa, daughter Brenda of Ottawa, son Patrick (Cathy) of Grande Prairie, and son Kelly (Shaunna) of Calgary, and her mother Mildred. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren. The interment of Joan's ashes took place at Three Hills Cemetery and her Memorial Service took place Monday September 15 at 2 p.m. at Knox United Church in Three Hills. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. As a tribute to Joan, a tree will be planted at Three Hills Golf Course. Sunset Funeral Service Have been entrusted with arrangements. |
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