Joan Mary Bosse
6th March 1927 – 2nd July 2022
“God saw you getting tired and the cure was not to be.
So he wrapped you in his loving arms and whispered “come with me”.
You suffered much in silence.
Your spirit did not bend.
You faced your pain with courage.
Until the very end.
You tried so hard to stay with us.
Your fight was all in vain.
God took you in his loving arms.
And saved you from all pain.”
Joan Mary Bosse was a fun-loving, resilient woman who overcame many adversities during her 95 years but a Covid-related bout with pneumonia proved too much and she left this world on 2nd July 2022 surrounded by her loving family.
Joan had been preparing for this next chapter for many years. Not a visit went by without her offering a family member some random item to take home because “one day, I’m going to go to Heaven and I won’t need this stuff”. Of course, she was right as usual.
Her six children fondly remember the daily phone calls to each of them in which she would provide the “latest news” about what each of the others was doing. Stories were usually repeated day after day until something new happened which allowed the daily narrative change. Her stories were always positive and told with obvious pride and love in her heart. She was a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, mentor and the best friend a person could have, and she will be sorely missed by all who loved her.
Joan’s life was not without hardships which she overcame with humor, strength and determination. She outlived three husbands, raised six children from her first marriage, and even survived a bout with cancer. She never complained about anything despite having many reasons to do so. She was the eternal optimist; loving, supportive, and always caring. She told everyone she met how proud she was of her family and they in-turn loved her unconditionally.
Born on 6th March 1927 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to Albert James & Dorothy Daisy Chellew. Joan was the third child of James and Daisy. She was predeceased by her parents and two older sisters; Evelyn Frances McKay (Vancouver) and Helen Audrey Gray (Trail).
Joan excelled in high-school and was awarded the “silver cup” for academics. Upon graduation from City Park Collegiate in Saskatoon in 1945, Joan entered business school later working at Woolworth’s Store for the vast sum of $0.25 an hour. She discovered that a career in business was not for her and in 1947 followed her passion for caring for others into a career in nursing. She graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1950 and soon started work at Saskatoon General Hospital. Joan quickly progressed to Assistant Supervisor and over the next three years worked in progressively more responsible positions in the Emergency Departments of Saskatoon General Hospital, Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Hospital and the Calgary General Hospital before accepting an offer in 1953 to work in Trail at Cominco’s first aid department.
“The rest is history” as they say as shortly after her arrival in Trail she was introduced to Alastair Ian MacAskill on a blind date. They married in 1954 and over the next ten years produced six children; Colin James MacAskill (Vancouver), Douglas Malcolm MacAskill (Victoria), Heather Ann Morrison (Trail), Ross Allan MacAskill (Trail), Donna Jean Tjader (Trail) and Sandra Lynn Koch (Trail). Colin was born on Ian’s 28th birthday; 11th August, and was the “best birthday present ever” according to Ian. His siblings might not agree with their father’s sentiments, but we’ll save that for another day J.
Ian went to Heaven on 2nd June 1967 leaving Joan to raise the six kids on her own. To keep her growing family together and put food on the table, Joan worked full-time at the Trail Regional Hospital and at 40 years of age she started driving for the first time. Most who witnessed her driving would agree with her when she’d say “driving was not my thing”. She avoided causing any serious accidents but did manage to fray the nerves of her passengers and others on the road. She freely admitted “I don’t like driving” and no one complained when she decided to stop.
In 1969 Joan was introduced to Ted Smithson; a single father raising three young girls with the help of a family friend. Joan and Ted married that same year and bought a house on Oxford Road in Warfield. Joan learned to curl and bowl and thoroughly enjoyed playing in weekly leagues in both sports, and competing in several bonspiels and tournaments in the Trail area. Unfortunately, Ted passed away on 1st May 1973 following complications from open heart surgery and Joan was once again alone. The burden of raising nine children on her own proved too much and Ted’s three girls went to live with the family friend who had cared for them before Ted and Joan were married. They were in good hands…
After Ted passed away Joan went back to work full-time as a Registered Nurse at Cominco. While there, a nice gentleman named Isadore (Ike) Bosse made frequent visits to the medical office with various complaints and ailments. It soon became apparent that his main focus during these visits was an attractive, recently widowed nurse named Joan Smithson. At first she ignored his interest but as time went on they fell in love and the two married on 18th May 1974. Ike and his daughter Suzanne, whom he’d raised on his own since she was three, joined the rest of the family on Oxford Road where they all lived happily for many years.
In 1974 during “the strike” Joan went back to work at the Trail Regional Hospital, then the Medical Associates Clinic in downtown Trail. While working at the Clinic she met Marg Brown; the Regional Assessor for Long-Term Care. Marg was nearing retirement and observed Joan’s compassion for others and caring personality; the exact traits required for her successor. Marg suggested that Joan apply for the position and in 1980 Joan became the new Regional Assessor for Long-Term Care, a position she held until retirement in 1991.
During retirement, Joan and Ike embarked on several “adventures”, driving across Canada, through the western United States, to Haida Gwaii, Hawaii, cruising through the Panama Canal, to Alaska, etc. She loved every minute of it and often reflected on the fun they had and the people they met. Between trips, during the summer months, Joan and Ike spent most of their time at Christina Lake, enjoying the 36’ park model trailer they bought for their lot in the Christina Sands Resort. Sadly, Ike passed away on 10th May 2010 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Christina Lake was Joan’s “happy place” where she thoroughly enjoyed her daily swims, sitting in the shade next to the beach chatting with friends, followed by evening card games and lots of laughs. She also absolutely loved attending family gatherings which in her later years became quite an under-taking due the ever growing size of her brood. At the time of her passing she had 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Most of her immediate family was born and raised in Trail and many still live in the area.
After Ike passed away, Joan moved into Mountain Side Village in Fruitvale and was proud of the fact she was one of their first residents. She thoroughly enjoyed living at Mountain Side; she loved the staff, her many friends and acquaintances, and they loved her too. To say Joan was a “social person” would be an understatement. Maybe it was her training as lifelong caregiver, or the fact she had such a large family, but there was nothing she enjoyed more than having coffee with friends, family gatherings, and regular visits and calls from friends and family.
In her spare time Joan would watch her favourite TV shows and knit… and knit, and knit, and knit. Over the years she produced literally hundreds of dish cloths, sweaters, mittens, blankets, etc. which she lovingly distributed to family and friends. These heirlooms will be cherished for years to come. Maybe that was her intention…
“If tomorrow starts without me and I’m not here to see;
If the sun should rise to find your eyes are filled with tears for me.
I hope you will not cry the way you might that day.
Thinking of the many things we didn’t get to say.
I know how much you love me and you know that I love you.
And each time that you’d think of me, please know I miss you too.
If tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand, that an angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand.
The angel said my place was ready in Heaven far above, and that I’d have to leave behind all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away a tear fell from my eye, for all my life, I’ve always thought, that I would never die.
I had so much to live for, so much left to do.
It seems almost impossible that I’d be leaving you.
So if tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart.
For everytime you think of me, I’ll be there in your heart.”
“She loved well and was well loved.
Her memory will be cherished by all those who will love her for many years to come.”
Due to concerns over potential transmission of Covid-19 there will be no public service at this time. It is with heavy hearts that we must sincerely apologize to Mom’s many friends and distant relatives who we know would have dearly loved to attend a formal service
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Joan Mary Bosse July 2nd 2022..
Décès pour la Ville: Trail, Province: Colombie britanique