PETRIE, Joan – The time has come to say goodbye to a beautiful woman, wonderful mom, and friend. She passed away at home on August 8th with her heartbroken family by her side at the age of 81. We find comfort knowing she has been reunited with her beloved husband Alexander Petrie (2013). Joan was born to George and Lillian Taylor and was one of four children. She is predeceased by her parents, her brothers Donald & Jack (Shirley), and sister Bettyanne Bradfield (Bob). She will be greatly missed by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Joan was born & raised in Brantford, was educated in Brantford public school, and went on to attend BCI & PJ. She held various jobs throughout her life including Spalding’s, The Colonial Restaurant and Tavern, and most recently The Brantford Expositor’s mailroom where she finally retired. During those years she married the love of her life, Alexander Petrie, and went on to raise three children who will forever miss her, Cheryl (Terry), Robert, and Lyndel (Pietro). She was the best nana in the whole world to Jason (Mandy), Erin (Jessie), Sarah (Matt), Alexis, and Liam, and great nana to Alix, Keanna and Cynthia. Joan had many roles throughout her life; she was a wife, mother, mother-in-law, friend, and co-worker. She excelled at all these roles but her favourite role by far was being a nana. She took extreme pride in her grandchildren and was affectionately known as “NanMan” whether you were family or not. She rarely missed watching Alix and Liam’s basketball games, loved (and hated) watching Liam play football, and was always proudly excited to travel and watch her “little chicken” Lexi at her gymnastics competitions. Without a doubt, the greatest gift Joan gave to her family was the gift of her time, she will be missed immeasurably. Many considered Joan to be their best friend, when in reality her best friend was her grand daughter Alexis. After being diagnosed with cancer, Alexis never missed a day spending time with her nana, whether it was taking Vinny for walks, going to Port Dover, watching “The Crown” and the Royal Wedding, making truffles, or watching and hoping that the Leafs would finally go on to win the Stanley Cup, they were truly inseparable – right till the end. Those who were lucky enough to know Joan felt the unconditional love she gave to her family, friends and extended family who she treated as her own. She had a special knack for making friends and could always find an extra seat at her table to invite an unexpected guest. Joan was known for her delicious cooking, especially on holidays which she hosted every year until she was 80 years old! She loved cooking for others and would make mountains of cookies, squares, pies, and cake and a special batch of rice crispy squares and Jell-O for the grandkids. We will definitely miss her stuffing, coconut cream pie, and cherry cheese cake, not to mention her potato salad, “runny meat”, and fried egg sandwiches. Joan truly loved life which makes it so unfair to have lost her when our adventures weren’t over yet. She loved dining out, family gatherings, going to concerts, and weekend getaways to Niagara Falls. Her favourite past times included Facebook, crossword puzzles, watching the Young and the Restless, and 90 Day Fiancé. She looked forward to weekly outings to the movie theatre and going on shopping trips. Joan kept an immaculate house and loved rearranging her furniture – one would have to be extra careful where you walked for fear of banging into a newly moved table. She had a passion for decorating at Christmas and would spend hours setting up her Christmas scene for the grandkids. Joan loved gardening and took great pride in her flowers that she always kept looking beautiful. Perhaps Joan’s greatest accomplishments were her award winning tatting, knitting, and crocheting. Her hands were rarely at rest as she was always making something for someone. To bring pleasure to her family and friends was always her goal in life. She was a kind and caring mom with a wonderful heart who would drop everything to sew a hem, iron a shirt, or sew a wig on her daughter’s hat. She will forever be remembered for being generous, funny, kind, and humble with a quiet disposition and unassuming personality. She lived, she loved, she laughed (she had a contagious laugh) and we are all better people for the priceless gifts she has given us. She is finally at peace. Mom and dad dancing away in paradise. This is how she would want to be remembered, smiling, dancing, laughing, and loving. She brought a smile and sparkle into the lives of all who knew her and we will forever miss her. Joan will be so proud to hear her son Robert honour her with the playing of Amazing Grace on his bagpipes following the service. Family and friends will be received at the TOLL FUNERAL HOME, 55 Charing Cross Street, Brantford on Thursday from 2-4 p.m. & 6-8 p.m. Mask and social distancing protocols will be in place. Funeral Mass celebrated at St. Basil’s Roman Catholic Church, 50 Palace Street on Friday, September 3, 2021 at 11 a.m. Please RSVP for the visitation and the service by visiting Joan’s memorial page at www.tollfh.ca.
We will treasure the memory of our beloved mother, until we meet again.
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Sunday August 8th 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Joan Shirley Petrie Taylor Sunday August 8th 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Brantford, Province: Ontario