Obituary of McCREARY – Joan Mercia

June 3, 1928 – April 14, 2010 Joan Mercia McCreary (nee Tandberg) passed away peacefully on April 14, 2010 after bravely battling her COPD illness with dignity and generosity of spirit. Joan (Tad) was born June 3, 1928 in Edmonton and was raised in Ryley, AB. She attended the U of A and obtained her teaching certificate. She married Richard McCreary in 1951. During and after the raising of her five children, she returned to the U of A and U of C to complete her degree in education and went on to complete an after-degree in counselling. Joan was quintessentially a teacher and mother. She was a devoted mother and grandmother and from that derived her greatest joy. She is survived by her children: Denise, Michele (Gil), Jamie (Sue), Randy (Leah), and Mara (Steve). She showered them always with love, comfort and encouragement. She will be greatly missed by her twelve grandchildren: Kate and Joey Reimann, Lauren, Lexie and Luke Curry, Matt and Sean McCreary, Megan and Sara McCreary, Alicia and Amy Perkins, and Devon Kendall. They were her delight. Her younger sister Joyce Raines will also forever miss her. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and other staff at the Rockyview Hospital as well as Parkland Respiratory and Alf for their extraordinary care and attention for Joan during some difficult times over the last years. Joan loved teaching, reading, children, flowers and helping others. She volunteered in her community, at schools and, after retirement, for a time at CUPS. If you choose, support a charity, a library, or a learning institution. “In my dream, the angel shrugged and said, if we fail this time, it will be a failure of imagination and then she placed the world gently in the palm of my hand” – Brian Andreas A Celebration of Joan’s Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on Friday, April 30, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. Your donations, memories of Joan, and messages to the family can be made through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Joan McCreary, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.