JOAN BROOKS

1931 - 2010

Joan Shirley Brooks, beloved wife of John Brooks of Lethbridge, passed away at the St. Michael’s Health Centre on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at the age of 78 years.
Joan walked through life with exceptional grace and dignity and considered her 60 year marriage and her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to be her most treasured legacy. Besides her loving husband John, Joan is survived by her children Dale (Sherry) Brooks of Lethbridge, Janet (Lloyd) McDonnell of Warner, Brett (Catharine) Brooks of Lethbridge and Susan (Harvey) Labuhn of Lethbridge; grandchildren Dawneen (Colin) Cartwright, Shawna (Shawn) Busch, Darcy (Quentin) Reider, Billy (Jody) McDonnell, John Brooks and Tracey (Tom) Baxter; great grandchildren Blake, Chloe Jo, Daelynn, Jared, Jaxson, Kennedy, Jordon, Dakota and Dylon. She is also survived by her brothers Wayne (Lois) Currie and Bryan (Laurie) Currie; sisters-in-law Anne McMillan, Joyce (Bill) Thomas and by numerous loving nieces, nephews and many life long friends.
She was predeceased by an infant brother Richard Currie, parents Boyd & Clara Currie and grandson Mark Brooks.
Always ready for the next adventure, Joan travelled to many wonderful places including England, Scotland and Puerto Rico. She had an exceptional fondness for Norway where her maternal grandparents came from. She passed on many treasured Scandinavian recipes and customs to her children and the Christmas table (Julebordet) was always overflowing with lefse and krumkake on a beautifully set table.
Joan absolutely loved Hawaii, especially the music and she was blessed to have visited there on many occasions. She enjoyed spending time in nature and was very fond of the cabin at St. Mary’s, Montana and vacations in Bigfork, Montana when her children were young. The stories of Joan waterskiing behind their ski boat are legendary in the family because she was always game even though she had never bothered to learn to swim!
In later years she enjoyed time spent at the cottage at Beauvaius Lake and trips to Whitefish, Bigfork, Fort McMurray, Waterton and numerous Scandinavian festivals in Minot, North Dakota. Joan was always eager to hop in the car and go shopping or meet for lunch but more than anything she loved to go on road trips with her husband John. In good weather they could often be found parked on a bluff overlooking the river at Grassy Lake eating a picnic lunch and watching for wildlife.
A devoted wife and mother, Joan lived a rich, full, giving life and always had a kind word for everyone. A quiet and humble person, she had a joyful sense of humour and a stoic attitude towards adversity. Her piano remained a constant comfort in her life and she had a natural talent for it and served for many years as the pianist for the Order of the Royal Purple in Warner. True to her nature, Joan never sought out the limelight and was content to roll up her sleeves and do what needed to be done – which included the dedicated care of her own mother Clara, who lived until she was 105 years of age.
A private family Burial Service was held in the Brooks family plot at the Prairieview Cemetery, Grassy Lake with Reverend Lois Punton of the Southminster United Church in Lethbridge, officiating.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Joan’s name may be made directly to the St Michael’s Health Centre, Palliative Care Unit, 1400 - 9 Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4V5.
Joan’s unwavering faith sustained her and her family is grateful for the support she received throughout her illness and would especially like to thank the entire Palliative Care Team who were so dedicated to Joan’s physical comfort and spiritual well being.