September 14, 1936 – May 14, 2021

 

We are sad to announce the passing of our Mom and Nana on the evening of May 14th, but just as she lived

her life, she passed on her terms. Joanne is survived by her daughters Cynthia and Andrea, her sons-inlaw

Cam and Jon, and her grandchildren Madi, Jackson, Molly, Taylor and Tye. Joanne was predeceased

by her daughter Sandra in December of 1986 and her husband of 58 years Don in December of 2016.

Joanne was born in Winnipeg, MB, on September 14th, 1936, and after graduating high school she attended normal school to achieve

her Teaching Certificate. Joanne taught school in Winnipeg until she met and married

Don in 1958. Shortly after being married they were stationed to Germany,

as Don was a navigator with the RCAF. Joanne and Don then spent several years

overseas and in Montreal before moving to Don’s hometown of Osoyoos to purchase

their first orchard in 1964.

Joanne quickly jumped into life in the Osoyoos area, joining the Ladies Bridge

Club, the Osoyoos Hospital Auxiliary, volunteering with the Canadian Cancer Society’s

Daffodil Campaign, and teaching school in Osoyoos. She stopped teaching

full time when their oldest daughter Cynthia was born, but stayed active volunteering,

and was eventually elected as a School Board Trustee, working to have

Kindergarten included in the public school system in the district.

When the Sun Bowl Arena was built in Osoyoos and the skating club started in

1975, Joanne enrolled all 3 daughters in figure skating. Sandra’s love and ability

for the sport initially lead to Joanne volunteering at the club level and then eventually

at the regional level, accounting at competitions and as a Team Chaperone

at several BC Winter Games, later being recognized with Don by the BC Section

for their long-term service to the sport. Her involvement in skating continued for

many years once Andrea became a skating coach, and Joanne could still be found

at most competitions cheering on skaters, and eventually her own granddaughters.

Joanne was deeply devastated by the loss of their daughter Sandra in 1986, and

although she felt that loss for the rest of her life, she moved forward by jumping

into a second career and volunteering for an organization that empowers women

through education. Joanne became a real estate agent in 1987 and proudly sold

homes and orchards in the area with Fraser Real Estate until she retired in 2000. Joanne

also became a Charter Member of the Osoyoos Chapter of Soroptimist International

in 1987 until 2018. Joanne was often on the executive, was president more

than once, and also served as a Director on the Soroptimist Western Board for a

term in the 90’s. Through her life Joanne believed in the power of reading and also

volunteered in reading programs at the elementary school long after her own girls

attended school there. Joanne was also an accomplished seamstress, sewing many

outfits for the herself and the girls, including skating dresses, carnival costumes,

and eventually sewing Cynthia’s wedding dress and altering her own wedding dress

for Andrea to wear.

Joanne reluctantly left her adopted hometown of Osoyoos in 2018 to move into an

assisted-living facility in Kamloops to be closer to her daughters. In her life Joanne

was a doer; if something needed doing, she got involved to figure out how to get

it done. Mom never shied away from hard work, a challenge, or a debate, and she

believed in standing up for what was important. We will always remember and

miss mom’s energy, her dry sense of humor and how proud she always was of her

grandchildren. Go lightly mom!

Due to current restrictions, a celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Condolences and tributes may be directed to the family by visiting

www.nunes-pottinger.com