On the morning of Tuesday, October 20, 2020, Lillian "Joan" Smith passed away at the Kimberley Special Care home at the age of 81 years.
She was the eldest of four children born to John and Lillian Harding in the Municipality of Minto, Manitoba on December 31, 1938. Joan grew up on a farm near Neepawa, Manitoba with her younger siblings, two sisters and one brother.
Joan grew up on the farm near Neepawa and told us stories of riding horse and buggy to school. She started her nurse's training in Dauphin, Manitoba and graduated in 1959.
She met her husband, Barry Smith while he was a patient in the Dauphin hospital and she nursed him back to health. Joan followed Barry to Hinton where they were married on April 23, 1960. They started their family there and had three children; Sherry, Glen and David.
She continued to work as a nurse while raising her family in Hinton. In 1966, the family moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario where Joan continued to nurse until the family moved to Cranbrook, BC in 1974.
In Cranbrook, Joan worked as Assistant Supervisor with the Cranbrook Homemaker Service until her retirement in the early 1990's. Our mom loved the outdoors and she and Dad loved hunting and fishing. She absolutely loved her walks around the neighborhood and especially around Elizabeth Lake area. She was also an avid reader, loved doing crossword puzzles and dabbled at crocheting.
Joan was an amazing wife, mother and grandmother whose love was always unconditional. She never judged anyone and she was a good listener. Her smile was contagious. Mom was our angel here on earth.
Joan leaves to mourn her beloved children; Glen (Rhonda) Smith and Sherry (Greg) Benbow as well as three grandchildren; Andrew, Brandon and Sara. She is also survived by two sisters, Darlene Donovan of Bourget, Ontario and Sharon Machado of Williams Lake, BC. Joan was predeceased by her husband Barry, her son David, her parents John and Lillian Harding and her brother, Vance Harding.
At Joan's request, there will be no funeral service. Condolences may be left for the family at www.markmemorial.com
Mark Memorial Community Funeral Home in care of arrangements (250) 426-4864
Mark Memorial Community Funeral Home
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