Obituary of Mary Paulana Joan DUNLOP

DUNLOP, Joan November 2, 1943 – August 16, 2011 Peacefully, with her loving husband of 47 years, Sonny, holding her hand, Joan passed away at the Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary at the age of 67 years after a courageous battle with Leukemia. Besides her husband, Joan (Mom) is survived by her son Darin (Belinda) and their 3 children Rebecca, Kirsten and Connor of Strathmore, A.B.; her daughter Dawn (Mark) and their 3 sons Tom, Jack and Mitchell of Salmon Arm, B.C.; her mother, Paula (Nanny); and two brothers, Carl and Wayne. Mom was predeceased by her father, Ozzie Fisher. Mom was born on a farm east of Winnipeg in Hazelridge, M.B. and this is where she met her husband and partner for life Sonny (Dad). Their early years together were spent going to “ball tournaments” to watch Dad play. Mom graduated from teachers college in 1963 and married Dad in 1964. She taught school (grade 1) until 1967 when she took 10 years off to raise us (Darin & Dawn). In 1973 Mom & Dad bought the farm in Lockport, M.B. where they farmed grain and cattle for the next 24 years. In 1977 Mom resumed teaching grade 1 at St. Andrews School. At the same time she went back to University part-time and earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of Winnipeg. Teaching was a passion for Mom and there were many nights we listened to Mom tell her “grade 1 stories” at the dinner table for what seemed like hours. Mom and Dad sold the farm in 1997 and built their “dream house” near the Red River in Lockport, M.B. In 2000 Mom retired after 26 years of teaching. The next few years were spent living the “retired life” going on trips (cruises) and camping and skiing with their group of friends “the butter-brickle gang”. Mom was the “consummate Mom” and spent a lot of her time in the kitchen, whether it was getting lunches ready for us in the field, making Sunday supper including raisin pie for her Dad, or just baking. Although she spent a lot of her time in the kitchen she always found time to attend all of our hockey, figure skating, and baseball events, usually with a lot of our friends in tow. In 2006 Mom and Dad moved out to Strathmore, A.B. Mom quickly developed a very close and special group of friends in Strathmore. Mom spent the last 5 years with us and our families doing what she, and we, loved; whether it was reading to the grand-kids, watching them in sports, or baking with them to fill “Grandma’s Cookie Jar”. These last 5 years were precious to Mom, Dad and us, and specifically the last 4 months of Mom’s life were very special as it provided Mom, Dad, us, and the grandkids the time to express feelings and thoughts that needed to be expressed. Mom will be dearly missed and not a day will go by that we won’t remember her strength, special qualities, gentleness and the love we had for Joan, “Cootie”, Mom, and Grandma. Our family would like to thank the Hematology staff at the Peter Lougheed Hospital, in particular Dr. Lategan, for their wonderful care. A Celebration of Mom’s life will be held Saturday, August 20, 2011 at Lord of All Lutheran Church (112 Lakeside Boulevard, Strathmore) at 11:00 a.m. Donations in Joan’s memory may be made directly to On Eagle’s Wings Ecumenical Ministries Inc. (10072 – 164th Street Edmonton, Alberta, T5P 4Y3). To send condolences, please visit www.wheatlandfuneralhome.ca. WHEATLAND FUNERAL HOME LTD. (Strathmore) in care of arrangements. 403-934-5666 Send Condolences