I was a part of Dragonstein, the co-housing community that Joan was also a part of. I remember Joan so so fondly, she was definitely the wise matriarch of our community, and I am very sad to hear that she has passed. She was taken far too soon! Joan gave so much of herself to others. She was so curious about so many things, she was passionate, truly a life long learner, and always willing to speak up and to speak her mind. Joan was authentic! She always made time for me and for others - I witnessed this daily. She cared for others and for so much so deeply and I really admired this about her. I learned so much from Joan - how to care for my body, how to cook, how to organize my home, how to speak to others, and care for others, the list is quite long. Joan was an absolute blessing and I can't help but be grateful that this blessing, her blessing, will continue on and not dissipate or disappear. I will continue to hold Joan's blessing in my memory, I will continue to cherish it and to celebrate it, and allow it to be known in my life. Joan's blessing will continue to live on in the love and hope that I carry in this world. I look forward to seeing her bright smile one day again. I love you, Joan!!!! <3 <3 <3

Blessing That Does Not End

From the moment

it first laid eyes

on you,

this blessing loved you.

This blessing

knew you

from the start.

It cannot explain how.

It just knows

that the first time

it sat down beside you,

it entered into a conversation

that had already been going on

forever.

Believe this conversation

has not stopped.

Believe this love

still lives—

the love that crossed

an impossible distance

to reach you,

to find you,

to take your face

into its hands

and bless you.

Believe this

does not end—

that the gesture,

once enacted,

endures.

Believe this love

goes on—

that it still

takes your face

into its hands,

that it presses

its forehead to yours

as it speaks to you

in undying words,

that it has never ceased

to gather your heart

into its heart.

Believe this blessing

abides.

Believe it goes with you

always.

Believe it knows you

still.

—Jan Richardson

Joan was the mother of my sister in law Carol, and the grandmother to my nieces. I only really had the opportunity to spend some time with her after moving to Calgary a few years ago and because the family would come into town to visit her , we would go out or get together at each other's homes for dinners ,bbq'd etc. She was always so very kind to us and welcomed us into their circle of extended family !

Her kindness and generosity reached to me in a very special way after Peter died and she was down-sizing from High River to the city. Having to get rid of most of her things she very graciously GAVE me some thing that had been specially made for her and Peter , and which she knew I had been looking for one for a very long time but could probably never afford in the same craftmaship. I will always be grateful to her for this beautiful piece of furniture and carry a piece of her heart and kindness with me. It is a constant reminder of her ! Thank you Joan !

It is sad to hear of Joan's passing

OT was a later life career for Joan and she embraced it to the fullest. Joan Riches was my first OT student in the late 80's - she was 52 and I was 25! Needless to say it was an interesting placement for both of us.

Our paths crossed again a number of years later when I was tasked with "finding out about the Allen Cognitive Levels" as part of an occupational therapy consult project. When I inquired about who would have some expertise with this, Joan's name came up. We connected again, and I owe my knowledge and understanding of this model to Joan. Her keen interest in this theory came from being an OT, but more personally from her own mother's struggle with dementia and learning to adapt to her mother's changing abilities. Any time I had a clinical question, Joan was always there to help. We had some incredible conversations that went on for several hours at a time.

I had the pleasure of running in to Joan last year at the Kerby Centre when I was there to meet a client. She was there attending a Feldenkrais class. Joan was always living life to the fullest. It was a privilege to have known her and to have been a friend

I think I have met your mum twice, and I feel grateful. I could see where you got your wisdom and resilience.

Big big hugs to you Steph at this time. Love Alex

Joan Riches had her first Occupational Therapy position working with me in High River. Yet I learned far more from her than the other way around, about assessing cognition, but also about patience, kindness, and compassion. She was my mentor for many years, when it came to some very complex OT assessments. She will be dearly missed.

Sincere condolences to the family, Joan was an amazing OT and an amazing woman.

I first met Joan working together in Home Care. We handled several cases together and I can testify to how tenacious she could be. We worked well together and became friends with Joan and Peter, enjoying many suppers together in our homes. My last conversations with Joan touched on end of life decisions and issues. She was very pragmatic and content with all that her life had given her. I will miss her very much.

Maria and John Kimber

I did not work in the same unit as Joan but she always had a smile and a greeting even when passing by. I am so thankful that family and or close friends were with her in hospital during this trying time .May wonderful memories fill your days forward .A

was honored to have the conversation on your 'veranda' O so recently Joan

& will miss the phone interactions - the mix master 'rebuild'

reminded me of Peter's work 'B's ~ th BiG dig & time with you

in High River house

Kathy @ Alex was pleased we recalled your instrumental 'paving'

the way for my health, gratsi; and via con dios from those Alex

ffolk fortunate to have met you; Joan & Peter & i am so fortunate

AND grateful for your guidance to dr. 'B' Randall say hi to Peter ~ r o b

I remember Joan vividly from all my times in the Riches household as a teenager in the 70s. She was unlike any of the staid and proper church mothers I knew -- formidable, at times even a little frightening, mainly because she didn't talk all the time the way people in my own family did, but instead often fixed me with her large eyes and (I thought) made judgments on my teenage silliness. A decade later, I visited her in Calgary and saw a different side of her. I was pregnant with my first child, and she gave me a massage and counseled me on matters of pregnancy, and in the gentleness of that interaction I realized that those large eyes hadn't been judging me, as I'd thought as a teenager, but instead making astute observations, which she uttered only when timely. At that time I wondered if I would have been a different person --a person with more gravitas, perhaps -- if I'd been Joan's daughter instead of the daughter that I was. I think I envied Carol and Stephanie a little, in that moment.

All this to say, I wish I had known her these last few decades, when I think we might actually have become friends, and shared reading experiences, and argued about the merit of novels. So I raise a glass to you, Joan. Thank you for providing a different kind of role model for me, when I was trying to grow up. May you dance in splendour now.