Obituary of Joan Isabel Read
With love and sadness, we wanted to share the news that Joan Read recently passed away peacefully at Innisfree hospice in Kitchener.
She is survived by her sister-in-law Anne Read, her nephew Hugh Read and his spouse Heather, and their children Hannah, Haley & Helen, and her niece Heather Read and her spouse Peter, and their children Zoë and Violet. We cherished Christmas celebrations and holidays with her, where she was always eager to help, and love her always.
She is predeceased by her father, Fred and mother, Greta (nee Ross), and her siblings Duncan and Thomas Read. Joan was the eldest child of the family, and deeply cherished her family’s history and traditions, ranging from their family photographs to their longtime family home on Franklin St. S. in Kitchener. Joan attended Wilson Avenue Public School up to Grade 6, Elizabeth Ziegler Public School to Grade 8, and then Kitchener Collegiate Institute and Vocational School (KCI&VS) in the Commercial and Business stream. In the longest role of her working life, she worked at Economical Mutual Insurance Co. in the auto insurance section from 1962-1977. She also had professional and volunteer positions at The Bay in Kitchener, the Waterloo Community Arts Centre, The Real General Store, Freeport Health Centre, The Morning Glory Cafe and Bakery, and House of Friendship Emergency Food Hamper Program. Joan also provided loving care to her mother, Greta, in her final years, and was a vital support to her brother Thomas throughout his life.
Church life was vitally important to Joan. She attended Trinity United Church (now merged with Forest Hill United Church) for her whole life, and was a dedicated volunteer. She loved the music, the Christmas celebrations, and the community that the church offered. The United Church was important to the family; Joan’s maternal grandfather was a signatory to the Declaration of Union between the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches of Canada forming The United Church of Canada in 1925. She also was a key for her brother Thomas’ engagement with his Lutheran church community, supporting him in running bingo games and other community events.
Joan was also a lifelong Liberal, and an avid reader. She enjoyed discussing politics, both locally and nationally, with her brother Duncan. She read the Waterloo Record (formerly the Kitchener-Waterloo Record) every day cover to cover, to the end of her life. She also loved reading stories about country life and family; as a red-haired girl, she had a deep fondness for the story Anne of Green Gables, greatly enjoying both the book and the television special. She had beautiful collections of china and spoons, and will be remembered for her love of sandwiches, fur coats, Christmas mugs, and Laura Secord chocolates.
Special thanks to Innisfree Hospice, Kitchener where Joan received excellent and compassionate end-of-life care for which her family are very grateful. We also wish to thank her religious and neighbour community for their dedicated support for Joan over the past few years, as well as her community palliative health care team.
A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the following charities that were important to Joan: KW Hospital Foundation, the Food Bank of Waterloo, or Innisfree Hospice.
Condolences for the family and donations to the above charities may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street S. Waterloo at www.erbgood.com.