1925-2021 ~ Joan was born and raised in Winnipeg. She had a happy and active childhood, especially when spending time at the family's cottage at Falcon Lake, where she became an expert swimmer.
She graduated from what later became the University of Winnipeg with a qualification in Social Work and soon moved to the west coast to pursue a career. In Vancouver she met Les Carpenter, a young Englishman to whom she had been introduced several years earlier when he was an RAF pilot trainee in Manitoba. They married in 1950, and in 1967 they moved with their three children to a farm near Parksville, BC.
Although Joan gave up Social Work when her children were young, she was always happy to help people and had a great talent for friendship. She enjoyed taking classes in everything from paper-making to rock collecting, but pottery became an abiding interest.
She was a founding member of the HandCrafter Co-op and an active participant in the early days of the Errington Farmers' Market and several other local groups.
Although her recent years were marred by dementia, she always maintained her good humour and everyone who knew her at any time in her long life will remember her infectious laugh. Joan was predeceased by her husband Les, and is survived by her three children and one grandson.
Many thanks to the dedicated staff at Arrowsmith Lodge and Cokely Manor for their care and support.