Joanne Elaine Cross
1955-2022
Joanne Elaine Cross, 66, of Waterside
and formerly of Hopewell Cape passed away on January 19 ,2022 at the
Moncton Hospital with her loving family by her side.
Joanne was born in Moncton on March
12, 1955 the daughter of the late Richard “Dick” Wilbur and
Janet (Rogers) Wilbur-Morton of Moncton.
Joanne grew up and lived in Hopewell
Cape all her life, she had a wonderful childhood growing up on the
farm and cherished great times shared with her
siblings.
After her schooling, she married Dana
Cross and they moved down the road and together they started a family
of their own. Above everything, Joanne’s family was most important.
She was a devoted wife, loving mother and very proud grandmother. When
her boys were young she carted them off to all kinds of sporting
events, cubs and always made them a priority in her life. Then the
grandchildren came along and they were the apple of her
eye.
She loved her home and took great
pleasure in her vegetable garden and her flower gardens, making her
yard beautiful. Joanne really knew her way around the kitchen and was
a great cook and enjoyed baking, her bread was amazing. Always having
lots to share with everyone who came by, she could definitely feed the
masses with no problem. She worked a few jobs over the years, and put
her cooking and baking ability to good use as she worked at many local
bakeries, take-outs and restaurants.
Joanne attended the St. Mary’s
Anglican Church in Hillsborough and also in her younger years attended
the United Church in Hopewell Cape. Wherever she attended church she
always took part in the activities and sang in the
choir.
She was very involved in her
community, having played in the Ladies Softball League, going to all
the wedding showers, baby showers and if there was an event at the
community hall, she was there to support it. Joanne was a great
neighbour to have, she made sure to drop off some baked goods for
anyone feeling down and was known for her generosity.
She was a positive influence on
everyone she met. She would let her opinion be known and you never had
to wonder where she stood on things. At times she had a very tough
exterior but everyone knew she was a real softy on the inside. She
lived her life to the fullest. She was always laughing and smiling and
was the life of the party. She enjoyed teasing and playing pranks on
people and would laugh wholeheartedly when things
happened.
She last worked as an Educational
Assistant at the Harrison Tremble and Caledonia High School and made a
special connection with all her students, her students became like
family.
She loved spending time with family
and friends at the Cottage in Waterside and had just made this her
permanent home after her retirement, she thought of it as her own
little piece of paradise on earth. Her love of nature and the outdoors
was obvious by the places she lived, she really enjoyed the simple
things in life.
Her kindness and caring ways will be
remembered forever. She has left us many happy moments and would want
everyone to think of a funny story as we reminisce and think of
Joanne’s great laugh echoing in the background. She would say, “A
day without laughter is a day wasted.”
She will be deeply missed by her
husband, Dana Cross of Waterside; sons, Matthew (Jenny) of Seoul Korea
and their daughter, Bomi; Luke (Kathryn) of Riverview and their twin
girls,Tessa and Charlotte; by her mother, Janet Wilbur-Morton (Arnold)
of Moncton; brother, Donald Wilbur (Julie) of Edgett’s Landing;
sister, Kathy Wilbur- Belliveau (Roger) of Memramcook; her special
niece, Janet Rodgers (Jesse) of Dawson Settlement and family, who she
had a special bond with. She will also be missed by her cousin Paul
Stewart and good friend, Julia Woodhouse of Keswick Ridge and by all
her in-laws; her extended family and many friends.
She was predeceased by her father,
Richard “Dick” Wilbur.
There will be a time of visitation, music, sharing of
memories and refreshments to celebrate the life of Joanne Cross at the
Alma Recreation Centre
on Monday, August 15th from 1-3pm. Joanne was
known for her laugh and her joyful spirit, we will try to honour her
as she lived. All are welcome as we reminisce and
tell stories of Joanne’s life and how she really made an impact on
everyone she met.
Joanne was
always helping the less fortunate so donations to the Shepody Food
Bank or to the charity of the donor’s choice would be greatly
appreciated.