On June 19th, 2022 at 10:50AM the husband and children of Joan Beryl Sharp (née Schaffer) witnessed her passing from this realm into the next. We were honored to all be there in Kamloops as Joan peacefully left this existence she had been traveling since her birth in Glasgow, Scotland on October 30th, 1944.
Glasgow said goodbye to Joan in 1956 when the family emigrated to Vancouver where they welcomed newly born sister Anne. Joan attended Lord Byng Junior-Senior High and later the University of British Columbia. Joan and Paul met at university and Paul describes the event as love at first sight. He was the light of her life, whenever she looked at him, her eyes were filled with love and admiration.
Paul and Joan raised four children together. Rodney was born Feb. 1968, Jenny was born Dec. 1968, Reba was born in July, 1972, and David arrived to the party late but loudly in Dec. 1978. Joan loved providing a welcoming and nourishing home for her family. From 1972 to 1988 they lived in Little Fort. This period was one of home grown food and Joan’s fabulously successful rose garden.
After moving house a couple of times in Barriere where Paul taught highschool, they moved to Kamloops in 1991. They had won some money in the lottery in 1987 and it helped to purchase a house in the Aberdeen neighborhood. They lived there until 2020, when they moved to The Riverbend Seniors Community in Brocklehurst. Paul cared for Joan as she battled dementia from the first insidious signs until even her heart had trouble. After a stroke in 2021, Joan stayed at Ponderosa Lodge.
Joan was the quintessential mother and homemaker, dedicating her life to improving the lives of her loved ones. Her compassion and sense of fairness wasn’t limited only to family and friends. She felt strongly for the plight of people in general and would feel genuinely upset when hearing news reports of injustice or suffering anywhere in the world. Joan had a heart of gold and gave anyone in need a safe place to be. Joan and Paul often chaperoned the kid’s late nights and there was always food for anyone hungry or a room to stay over. Many times Joan opened her heart and home to friends of her teenage children when those friends were in need of a place to stay, sometimes for weeks or months or more at a time.
We will fondly remember Joan’s wry wit, delivered at times unexpected and with a straight face.
Joan was predeceased by her younger sister Anne Roland and her parents Erich Schaffer and Bessie (Betty) Schaffer.
Offer Condolence for the family of Joan Beryl Sharp 1944 – 2022
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Joan Beryl Sharp 1944 –..
Décès pour la Ville: Barriere, Province: Colombie britanique