Obituary of Joan Lobban (Crighton)
With much sadness we announce the passing of Joan (Crighton) Lobban. After a long and accomplished life, Joan passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday March 2nd at the age of 94.
The first 24 years of Joan’s life could have been a movie. Joan was born on March 29th, 1931 in Shanghai, China to British parents. Her father was a detective with the International Police Force in Shanghai. At the age of 11 in 1942 during World War II, she was interned with her family in a concentration camp on the outskirts of Shanghai. When the war ended in 1945, she left with her family to Australia. After excelling and graduating at the Presbyterian Ladies College in NSW, Joan joined her father in Hong Kong where she began working as a secretary and enjoyed playing field hockey.
She moved to Singapore in 1952 to work for Time Life Magazine where she made an indelible mark during her time there. It was in Singapore where she met William Lobban, and they married on October 12,1955 at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. After spending their honeymoon in Japan, they took a steam freighter to North America first arriving in San Francisco and then taking a train to British Columbia, arriving in Vancouver on the eve of the Grey Cup on November 25,1955. They were best friends and loving partners together for 65 years. Joan and Bill lived in Vancouver, Canada, for 8 years, before settling in Waterloo, Ontario in 1964.
Joan was an active member in the local Waterloo community and maintained her interest in international relations. She opened the Canadian Save the Children’s Fund (Cansave) Kitchener-Waterloo Branch in 1967, being elected in 1968 to the Cansave Board of Directors and Chairman for Canada for the Cansave Miles for Millions. Joan was also involved with both the Canada and the Ontario Games for the Physically Disabled in 1975 & 1976. Joan also served on a number of committees with the City of Waterloo, and was an active member of the Waterloo Tennis Club. In 1982 she opened her own business ‘Just a Little Something” representing children’s clothing brands from Australia, Europe and the USA until she retired in 2010. She is truly leaving her mark in the community and will be remembered for her years of contribution back to the Region of Waterloo, she loved so much.
Joan loved to travel and made many trips with her family to visit her relatives in Australia, Asia and Britain. Early summer months were spent in Southampton on Lake Huron playing tennis and spending time at the beach with her kids. Eventually ending up cottaging in Beaver Valley & Lake Euginia, Joan enjoyed cross country skiing during the winter and summer days on the lake with her family & grandchildren. Over the course of her life she played field hockey for the Presbyterian Ladies College, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Canada
Loving mother and guiding light of Malcolm of Toronto & his children Kathryn, Heather and Elizabeth. Karen Vujovich of Perth, Australia & her children Nadia (Grayson Crowe) great grandchild Nella, Zadie & Cleo, Elicia (Andreas) and Ariana, and Graham (Stephanie Hauser) of Waterloo & their children, Mackenzie (Victoria) great grandchild Annie, Chelsey and Parker. She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years William “Bill” Lobban, an infant son, her parents Julie Lawrence & John Crighton and her siblings John and Bonnie.
A very special thank you to all of her wonderful private PSW caregivers; Ella, Jenny, Tigist, Tessa and Ihsan for taking such amazing care of Joan for the last few years of her life. They helped make Mama/Joan’s last years, so much better.
Also, a special thank you to the Home Palliative Care Team from St Marys Hospital who have also taken special care of her for the last 3 years as well.
Cremation has taken place and a private family Memorial Service will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family or donations to Canadian Save the Children Fund may be arranged through the funeral home at 519-745-8445 or at www.erbgood.com.