After a full life filled with challenges, family, adventures, and devotion, Joan passed away peacefully at Woods Park Care Centre, Barrie on Wednesday December 19th, 2018 at the age of 97. Our inspirational Matriarch will be greatly missed by her loving family and all of those who had the distinct pleasure of having known her. She was the eldest of 5 children, born to Arthur and Josena Kidd in Cookstown, on August 16, 1921. She was pre-deceased by her brother Jack and sister Patricia and is survived by sisters, Elizabeth (Betty) and Molly. She lost her husband, Bruce McLean, in 1998 after she cared for him in their home during a lengthy illness. Joan was a wonderful, dedicated, mother to Brian (deceased), Bob (and Lynn), Libby (and Lloyd), Donna (and Jason) and Joanne and an exceptional grandmother to 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren who adored their, “GG”.
Joan never sat idly and let the world pass her by. Rather she was a great influence on the community around her through her art, volunteer work, devotion to her native town, Cookstown, her love of history and her spiritual involvement in the United Church. She displayed a keen interest in everyone she met and everything she did. Just when someone thought she couldn’t accomplish something, she surprised them and did it with enthusiasm. At the age of 80 + she authored a book, Glimpses of Cookstown. She was honoured with many community awards including the Simcoe County Hall of Fame for her work on the Tweedsmuir History. An active historian, Joan was often approached for factual information on many family trees from people all over the world
She was also a very accomplished artist and painted pictures of local Cookstown homes and landmarks, in addition to landscapes. For a period of time, she reported the Cookstown news in the local newspaper, as it was in her nature to be inquisitive and caring about everyone and everything. Joan was always up for an “adventure”. In her 90s’ she flew to Las Vegas and Banff for her granddaughters’ weddings, she developed an interest in the Casino, she was always up for a party, and she could spend hours getting to know strangers. She touched many lives of both residents and staff in the time she lived at Woods Park Care Centre. Joan’s family will forever be grateful for the attention, care and compassion offered to her by the staff at Woods Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Canadian Cancer Society. Friends may call at Paul F. Kent Funeral Home in Cookstown on Friday, December 21st from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Living Faith Community Presbyterian Church, 206 Murphy Rd., Baxter, ON L0M 1B1 on Saturday, December 22nd at 2:00 p.m. with visitation just prior from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the church.
The McLean family looks forward to welcoming one and all to this celebration of life for their cherished Matriarch, Joan.