Joan Shaw passed away at the Seniors Village in Williams Lake on October 2nd 2009, just short of her 91st birthday. Joan was born in Crowthorne, near Reading, England on November 5th 1918, the second daughter of George and Grace Gibson. She came
to Canada as a baby in 1919 and
was raised in what is now called Carr’s Landing, on the shores of Okanagan Lake.
Joan attended St. Margaret’s School in Victoria and later trained as a physiotherapist at Kings College Hospital in London, England, and at the University of Toronto. She joined the Canadian Army as a physio and met Bob, the love of her life, before being deployed overseas to England and later Germany. They were married in England while on leave on January 27th 1945. After the war, Joan and Bob settled in Vancouver where their three children were born and Bob wrote for The Province newspaper. In 1959 Joan returned to work as a physiotherapist at the Vancouver General Hospital until she retired in 1973. She and Bob enjoyed 12 years of retirement at their cottage at Sheridan Lake. After Bob died in March 1988, Joan moved to Williams Lake to be nearer to her two daughters.
Joan will be fondly remembered as a loving and supportive mother and grandmother and for her love of nature. She always cared for others, especially the less fortunate and the injured. Always game for anything, she still enjoyed swimming in Cariboo lakes well into her 80’s.
Joan is survived by her children, Rob Shaw of Vernon, Susan (David) Zirnhelt of Beaver Valley, Christy (David) Richardson of Rose Lake, grandsons Damon (Cherie-Lynn), Sam (Jill) & Robin (Shannon) Zirnhelt; Avery, Kent & Brock Richardson; Anthony & Michael Shaw; great-granddaughter Julia Zirnhelt; and niece Rosemary Carter & nephew Mick Wentworth, both of Okanagan Centre, BC.
Her parents, her sister Pam and her husband Bob predeceased Joan.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the wonderful caregivers at the Williams Lake Seniors Village.
Friends are invited to a celebration of Joan’s life at 2:00 PM, Saturday October 10th at the Richardsons’ home at 3734 Branch Drive, Rose Lake.
LaPrairie’s Funeral Services entrusted with arrangements. 250-398-9100.