OBITUARY
Joan Daphne Spencer
December 15, 1929 – December 8, 2018
It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to an incredible woman, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and aunt, Joan Spencer (née Lovejoy). Joan passed away peacefully at the Surrey Memorial Hospital on the morning of December 8 2018 at the age of 88, with her loving daughter Cathy Smith by her side. The day before she passed, Joan was surrounded by loved ones, friends and family, just as she would have wanted.
Joan was born in St. Vital, Manitoba to Doris Johnson and Cyril Lovejoy, and was the fifth of eight children, Doris (husband Ernie), Bernice (husband Lloyd), Thelma (husband Buzz), Lesley (husband Gordon), Russel (first wife Glennis, second wife Nancy), Douglas (wife Betty) and Sheila (husband Joe). On September 1st 1956 in St. Vital, Manitoba, Joan married George Abernethy, a lighthearted and fun-loving man with whom she spent 21 years. Together they had four children, Kimberly (Glenn), Cathy (Duane), Robert (Delia) and Doris (Layne). Joan and George spent many years in Manitoba and eventually moved with their children to Vancouver, BC, where Joan and George eventually separated. Joan then met her second husband, Maxwell Spencer, and they were married on December 16th 1978 in New Westminster. Joan welcomed Max’s daughter Sandra (Bob) into her life, and she was blessed to have so many wonderful memories with her five children. Joan and Max had a wonderful life together, and were married for 28 years until Max’s passing in 2006. Joan is survived by her five children, Sandra, Kimberly, Cathy, Robert and Doris, eight grandchildren, Serah, Jennifer, Carmen, Joshua, Rebecca, Graeme, Bryce and Leah, as well as three great grand-children, Ella, Nara and Wesley.
Joan’s friends and family are saddened by this heart-breaking loss, but continue to feel blessed to have cherished moments and memories of her. We will forever remember her as a good-hearted and generous soul, who always had time for a cup of tea and a chat, and never hesitated to cheer anyone up with kind words. In her later years, she enjoyed trips to Winnipeg and Prince George to visit with family, as well as holidays to tropical destinations with her loved ones, where she adored the hot sun and warm sand, and she always looked forward to attending the St. Thomas Anglican Church on Sundays. Joan continued to work for South View Gardens Townhomes as Residential Manager up until her 87th birthday, and would never fail to delight everyone as a determined hard worker regardless of her age and the health complications she bravely faced in her final years.
Joan assured her friends and family that she would meet them again in heaven, and surely now she is smiling upon us in the company of her mother and loved ones that were waiting with open arms in heaven. A celebration of Life will be held in the late spring or early summer, with an official date to be announced at the Ocean View Funeral home, located at 4000 Imperial St, Burnaby, BC. The family has chosen this time of year so that we can celebrate Joan in the warm weather that she loved so much. Joan truly wished to be remembered with a smile for the remarkable life she led and years full of love with her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the St. Thomas Anglican Church located at 2444 East 41st Avenue, Vancouver, BC.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
Psalm 23:4
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Joan Daphne Spencer 2018..
Source:Ocean View Funeral Home & Ocean View Burial Park
Décès pour la Ville: burnaby, Province: Colombie britanique
