Joan was the youngest of nine children of Harman and Eva Gill and was born in Grand Bend, Ontario.  

Right up until the onset of her recent illness, Joan was an active participant in many activities such as yoga, exercise classes, biking, cross country skiing and sailing, and was an avid gardener with a fine appreciation for the beauty of her surroundings. 

During her lifetime she took an active participating role in many church and social related organizations, having taught sunday school at St. Cuthbert’s Church in Oakville, was a member of the Chancel Guild in Parishes in London and Hudson Quebec, and was President on the AWC at St. James Church in Hudson. 

While living in Oakville Joan was actvie in the Beta Sigma Phi, becoming president of the local chapter in the mid sixties.  She shared with her husband David a life long love of sailing and was at various times a member of Yacht Clubs in Oakville, Hudson and Whitby.  For the past four years she was active as a volunteer in the Canadian Blood Services clinics at Mount Zion Masonic Lodge in Brooklin Ontario.

Joan was trained as a nurse, and spent her early married years raising the family, and eventually as an empty nester decided on a business career, partnering with daughter Susan in a women’s fashion boutique known as Hanbury-Leigh in Markham Ontario.

In Joan’s busy life she found time to become an avid bridge player, enjoyed fine dining of her own creation, and entertaining friends and family with many memorable meals.  She took great pride in the achievements and family values of her children, and followed closely with love and pride the growth, schooling and development of her five grandchildren. 

She will be sadly missed by her family and friends, and memorials to her passing can best celebrate her life by contributions to the Canadian Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.

Friends and Family will be received at the MEMORIAL CHAPEL BROOKLIN (905-655-3662) 79 Baldwin Street Brooklin from 2-5 p.m. Sunday.  A Memorial Service will be held at St. Thomas Anglican Church (Winchester and St. Thomas Sts. Brooklin ) on Monday May 28th, at 11:30 a.m.  Visitation will commence at the church Monday morning at 10:30.