Joan Whitehead passed away peacefully in her 91st year on July 11, 2021.
Joan was the daughter of the late Ezra and Lulu Mae Lumsden. She was born in Ottawa and grew up on Parkdale Avenue with her three sisters and brother. She graduated from Glebe High School and worked at Met Life before marrying Paul Whitehead in 1952. Joan then began what could be described as a nomadic life as she and Paul travelled extensively during his service as an officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Joan became adept at moving her house, complete with kids and pets, at least every two years. Their postings took them to four countries in Europe, three provinces in Canada, and to California. When Paul retired, Joan and Paul became avid RVers and travelled throughout North America in increasingly bigger vehicles. After Paul died in 2000, Joan overcame her fear of flying and travelled with friends and her daughter Shelley extensively throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. As recently as a few years ago, Joan was threatening to buy another RV and hit the road!
Joan’s love of travelling was exceeded only by her love of family. The joy of her life was her three children Stephen (Karen), Jeffrey (Kathleen) and Shelley, her eight grandchildren Matt, Tristan, Elizabeth, Robin, Meghan, Nick, Holly and Sadie, and her 12 great-grandchildren. Nobody related to small children as well as Joan, and she was a favourite playmate of all of them. Joan was always close to her sister and best friend Margaret Burbridge and her brother Keith Lumsden and his wife Phyllis. Joan was predeceased by her sisters Doreen Marcenko and Fay Pealow, by her sisters-in law Ruth Richardson and Isobel Jones and by her brothers-in-law Kevin Murphy, Ralph Burbridge, Ken Pealow, John Richardson and Eric Jones. Joan loved, and was much loved by, her numerous nieces and nephews and their children.
Joan was a compassionate person who volunteered extensively to assist others. As a young girl, she was a candy-striper at the Civic Hospital. She was a Brownie leader. She volunteered at the Queensway Carleton Hospital and then became a long-time volunteer at the Starwood Long Term Care home. She was particularly compassionate with residents who suffered from dementia, the terrible disease that afflicted Joan in her final months.
Joan’s family is grateful for the invaluable support that Marichelle Turla of Tardif Senior Care provided to Joan over the last year as her caring and trusted companion. The family is also thankful to St. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa which provided her with excellent care in her last few weeks.
Joan loved animals and donations in her memory may be made by those who wish to her favourite charity, the Ottawa Humane Society.
A private family-only celebration of Joan’s life will take place at the West Chapel of Hulse Playfair & McGarry in Ottawa.
Sunday July 11th 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Joan Thelma Whitehead Sunday July 11th 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Ottawa, Province: Ontario