Bolger, Joan – It is with profound sadness that the family of Joan Mary (Cochrane) Bolger announce the passing of their loving and devoted mother and best friend on Thursday, May 27th, 2021 at the Temiskaming Hospital in New Liskeard.
Joan was predeceased by her parents, William Cochrane and Pauline Sullivan, and her younger brother, John Cochrane. After fifty-two years of marriage, she endured the heartbreaking loss of her loving husband, Ron, in 2009. Joan is survived by her youngest brother, Rodger Cochrane, of New Liskeard.
Always a nurturing parent, she left a legacy of love to her six children whom she fondly referred to as The Crew: Judi Bell of Woodstock, Debbie (Marty) Larocque of Lac la Biche, Alberta, Bev (Paul) Gordon of Haileybury, Rocky (Patsy) Bolger of Coldwater, Scott (Tracey) Bolger of Port Hope, and Bill Bolger (Tammy Wilson) of Marathon. The Crew provided her great joy with the addition of twelve cherished grandchildren who treasured Joan as Pink Grandma, referring to her favourite colour. Mourning her death with broken hearts are: Katie Emmerson and Brennan (Steph) Bell; Adam (Mitzi) Larocque and Amber Trenaman; Taylor Gordon (Martin Monette); Brock Bolger and Jade Bolger (Brett Lewis); Bradley (Amanda) Bolger, Kimberly Bolger (Brad Boismier) and Wade Walker; Connor Bolger and Kara Bolger.
Joan delighted in her eleven great-grandchildren: Anabelle & Madeleine; Parker & Miles; Ayden & Gavin; Mackenzie, Bronson & Charlie; Colton; and Lilyanna.
She warmly welcomed and loved her selected daughters and their husbands, Anita & Matt Williams and Lynn & Steve Belanger into The Crew, and they will miss her dearly. In her life’s gathering of friendships, Joan formed forever bonds with Darlene & Jack Perrault, Aurel Belanger, Charmaine “Grace” Bragg, Larry & Parris Olsen and Marty Tresidder. Joan’s caring ways and her sense of humour are also sadly missed by the Bolger family in-laws, and nieces and nephews. Joan was the glue that bonded her immediate and extended family together. Her home was the one stop that family and friends insisted on visiting when travelling through the area. Her signature wave, an “I Love You” in sign language, has sent many on their way.
Born in Val d’Or, Quebec on May 19th, 1935 Joan would survive childhood tuberculosis, tetanus, and scarlet fever. She graduated from North Cobalt Public School and Cobalt High School before earning her apprenticeship certificate from the North Bay Hairdressing School. Joan returned home to her parents in North Cobalt and set up Joan’s Beauty Shop in Cobalt. She would soon marry Ron, the handsome, brush-cut bus driver who drove her to work each day. Their love story and family homes were established in Haileybury, Atikokan, and North Cobalt as Joan operated her hairdressing and seamstress businesses from home while raising her busy family.
Joan embraced her destined life’s purpose to better the lives of others. She enjoyed an extensive community volunteer record that spanned sixty years of service. She lived to see her selfless acts of good deeds formally recognized locally, provincially, and nationally. Some of these honours that she humbly accepted included: a 2002 Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, a 2017 Governor General’s Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, the CJTT 1999 Lifetime Achievement Award, and an Extendicare Volunteer Award for 17 volunteer years in the Craft/Activity room.
With the world-renowned skills of heart surgeon Dr. Tirone David at Toronto General Hospital in 2016, Joan vowed upon her recovery to “pay it forward”. As her chosen act of kindness, she appliqued and sewed lap blankets to surprise all sixty-six residents at Haileybury Extendicare. Joan’s passion for bringing joy to others also included writing inspirational messages on hundreds of rocks and painting them as ladybugs to be hidden in parks, stores, hospitals, etc.
Joan was a Lifetime Member of the North Sunshine Women’s Institute; held positions in the Br.54 Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Aux.; led 4-H Homemaking Clubs from 1956 to 1977 and founded/instructed a sewing and craft club for women in North Cobalt. Joan’s creative hands were rarely still, and her talents were many. She was a fantastic cook and many of her recipes were shared in your community cookbooks. Her famous sticky buns were so popular at the Haileybury Curling Club bonspiels that pre-orders were taken to avoid bidding wars. Her giant chocolate chip cookies were welcome rewards for many, whether they were devoured by school children competing in Br. 54 public speaking contests or members of the O.P.P. Dive Team.
Joan taught her children to always show their gratitude for others’ helpful deeds. It is with grateful hearts that they wish to thank Dr. Pat Logan, Dr. Celine Leger Nolet, Dr. Ryan Sayer, Dr. Khaled Elgadi, Temiskaming Hospital Day Medicine angels (Lynn Baldovin, Jocelyne Bergeron, Joanne Marsh, and Cindy Pearson), Tisha LaCarte (Central Booking), Lise Heroux (O.T.), nursing staff and student nurses both in the Emergency Dept. and on the floor, Colleen MacNeil (LTC Coordinator), Angie Herd (R.T.), CarolAnn Dickinson (VitalAire), Life Labs Mobile (Helen Jennings and Bridget Porter), Home and Community Care Support Services (Colette Belanger, Angela Nichol), CarePartner Nurses (Jamie Lavallee, Megan Sauve and Isabelle Breault), Findlay’s Drug Store (Bruce and Steven Alexander and staff) and Buffam Leveille Funeral Home (Leo Geoffroy and Jamie Carter) for the care and compassion shown to their mother.
Honouring Joan’s wishes, she has been cremated and laid to rest at the Haileybury Catholic Cemetery. Her family and friends will gather next spring when times permit the “Blockbuster” party which she suggested. Should you wish to honour Joan’s life, her chosen charities are The House of Kin (Sudbury) [1889 Regent Street, Sudbury, ON P3E 3Z7 – cheques only] and the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Condolences may be left at www.buffamleveille.com.
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Thursday May 27th 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Joan Bolger Thursday May 27th 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Haileybury, Province: Ontario