Joan Dorothea Clarke

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the peaceful passing of the most generous, loving and compassionate mum, Joan Dorothea Clarke (nee Reece). She gradually drifted off to sleep from complications of a stroke and dementia on Feb 1, 2022 at the age of 87 at Shalom Village in Hamilton, Ontario Canada. Joan, also affectionately called “Joanie” and “JoJo” by many, was born on March 22, 1934 in Barbados, West Indies. She worked for many years as a Cytology Technologist, screening pap smears both in Barbados and in Toronto (Bestview Medical Laboratories, CML). She was a very intelligent, independent, determined and sometimes even stubborn woman who was well respected by her friends and colleagues in and outside of the medical community. Joan was an avid reader and a master at cross-word puzzles. She loved animals, trees, and was the Queen of garden fertilization. Joan also had a very good sense of humour and it is this humour that will keep us remembering her and laughing long after she is gone. Joan is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Ellen Dorothy Reece Clarke and Ernest Gibson and her one and only, love-of-her-life, grand daughter, Hannah Reece Gibson. Joan is also survived by her sister Carolyn Steele; brother Richard Reece and his wife Nadine; brother Roger Reece and his wife Maria; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and Godchildren all over the world. We can’t forget Kingston, our family dog, who loved his Granny who “secretly” fed him Shepherd’s Pie, Cheerios, a whole package of treats in 2 days, and anything else he desired. Joan is predeceased by her parents, Charles Nigel Reece (2011) and Dorothy Spencer Reece (1978); brother Douglas Reece (1998) and sister Cherie Cousineau (2021). A special thank you goes out to the staff at Shalom Village who showed Joan genuine kindness and compassion. I would also like to extend a sincere thank you for the continuous support from family, friends and colleagues. Mum’s wishes were for people to not mourn her loss but to honour her memory with good stories and laughter. She requested cremation and preferred not to have a service. You are invited to share a memory or send condolences online to affordableburialandcremation.ca