Obituary of KEELING – Joan Louise

July 8, 1933 – April 15, 2011 Joan Louise Keeling beloved wife of Brian of High River, passed away on Friday, April 15, 2011 at the age of 77 years. Joan was born in Alsask, SK on July 8, 1933, the second daughter of a CNR conductor. Shortly after her birth, the family transferred to the CNR rail yard at Mirror, AB. Joan grew up and received her education in Mirror. She worked part-time as a switchboard operator for AGT before moving to Calgary around 1955, where she again found work with AGT. Joan later worked for Revenue Canada for about thirty years, retiring in 1992. It was in Calgary where Joan met her husband Brian at a dance one Saturday night at Penley’s Dance Academy. They had remained a couple ever since. Joan was hard-working, a good housekeeper and a wonderful cook. She never seemed to have idle time. Once the supper dishes were cleared, she would watch the evening news and while watching, she would be doing something else like knitting or working on a jigsaw puzzle. Joan loved the outdoors and her flower garden. She spent hours deadheading and watering from the rain barrel every morning. She was particularly fond of growing her own cucumbers, radishes and strawberries. In the springtime, after her garden was planted, she wouldn’t let anyone hoe the rows until she went down each row first on her hands and knees and pulled every weed. After that, her husband was free to hoe for the summer. Joan was a good mother and grandmother. She truly loved her children and grandchildren, but she definitely didn’t believe in giving them everything they wanted. When Joan first found out her cancer had returned she was in a frenzy cleaning house, shampooing carpets, and having some rooms repainted. She tried her best to ease the way for her husband. Besides her loving husband Brian, Joan is survived by her son and daughter-in-law James and Lynn Keeling; her daughter and son-in-law Lori and Marcello Carbognin; two grandchildren Joel and Robyn Keeling; sister Joyce Thompson; brother and sister-in-law Conway and Gail Dermott; sister-in-law Lona Dermott; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Ann and Charlie, and brother George Dermott. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Fish Creek Chapel (14441 Bannister Road S.E.) on Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, c/o Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 – 29 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 4N2 Telephone: 1 (866) 412-4222, www.albertacancer.ca/memorial or to the Salvation Army in High River, Box 5430, High River, AB T1V 1M5 Telephone: (403) 652-2195, ab.salvationarmy.ca. In living memory of Joan Keeling, a tree will be planted at Big Hill Springs Park, Cochrane by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: (403) 256-9575.