Obituary
With heavy hearts we announce the peaceful passing of Joan Garside, on March 16, 2022, at the Oakville Hospital. Born on May 8, 1926, in Connecticut, daughter of John and Jenny Moulding (nee McDermott), she leaves behind her three daughters Anne Fuller (Nigel), Jane Garside-Foy (Bill) and Lori Garside Labelle (Bertrand). Her loving husband of 70 years, John, her darling daughter Julie Kinder, and beloved brother Paul Moulding predeceased her. Her grandchildren Julia Schwab (Eric), Andrew Stewart (Brandi), Jessica Brown (John), Alexander Makielski (Michelle), Ryan Sarfeld (Kristin) and Paul Labelle (Sonia) were the apple of her eye; she cherished her great-grandchildren Jonah, Maya, Madeline, Colin, Caleb, Emma, and Dylan. She is survived by her cousin-in-law Barbara Jeremiah (nee Garside) and nephews David Garside and Peter Lynch and niece Susan Bowie (nee Garside). We also want to acknowledge her dear ‘Auntie Mamie’ (Mary Languay nee McDermott) who was like a second mother to Joan and whose family lineage is valued deeply by our family.
As a youngster her family returned to Oakville and her love of music began in earnest. Already playing the piano, her schoolteacher asked her to teach the younger kids their choral parts, and a choir director was born! When her own children were young, she played the organ and directed, first at St. Dominic’s and then at St James Church choirs and Thursday night choir practices became an event for the entire family.
When her youngest left home, she turned her attention to education and soon had a Bachelor of Arts degree under her belt followed by a Master of Arts – Guidance and Counselling. With this she found great joy and pride in her new role as the Director of the Women’s Centre at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan where she developed programs for, and counselled, displaced homemakers.
Upon her retirement, she returned to Oakville and volunteered at the Oakville Women’s Centre, joined a book club and the CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women) where she met many wonderful friends that filled her life. She also became active again in music first joining, then directing, the Interlink Seniors Choir for 16 years. She had one last Choir adventure, at the age of 95, directing a group of residents at The Kensington in preparation for Christmas! Despite all her contributions to her community over the years, she was surprised and honoured to have received the Halton Women of the Year Award in 2006.
Another big part of her life were the many happy hours spent down at the harbour and on the water with John on their sailboats – first the Unicorn and later the Levitas.
In her final weeks Joan frequently expressed that she couldn’t have imagined the length and richness of her life or the many amazing, talented, wonderful people who had filled her life with so much love and meaning.
The family wishes to thank the Oakville Memorial Hospital for the deeply compassionate care extended to Joan and her family. Special thanks also to the wonderful care provided at The Kensington in Oakville, where she met new friends that enriched her life.
The funeral will be held at St. James Church, 231 Morden Road in Oakville on May 7 at 1:30pm with a reception following at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations to Oakville Memorial Hospital, Tempus Choral Society or The Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, would be appreciated by the family.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Joan Garside May 28 1926 March 16 2022..
Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home
Death notice for the town of: Oakville, Province: Ontario