Obituary of Joan Elizabeth TURNBULL (nee Colton)

February 20, 1928 – Verdun, Quebec
February 11, 2021– Calgary, Alberta

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our dear mother, Joan Turnbull, on February 11, 2021 just nine days shy of her 93rd birthday. Although we will miss her terribly, we are certain she is happy to reunite with the love of her life and husband for more than 66 years, Thomas (better known as Bob) Robert Turnbull, who passed away four long years ago.

Joan was born in Verdun, QC, to two proud Newfoundlanders – Ethelbert Colton of St. John’s and Marguerite (nee Badcock) of Harbour Grace – shortly after the family moved to the Montreal area. She was known as Precious Joanie to her parents and grew up with an older sister Eleanor (Lloyd Canning) and brother Bob (Evelyn), both of whom predeceased her.

As a child, Joanie was always singing, loved to go ice skating in winter, and play hide-and-go-seek in summer. She was proud of her perfect attendance record in school and won a medal for neatness that read, A Place For Everything and Everything In Its Place. She graduated in 1945 from Verdun High and in her yearbook they wrote, “She always leaves us laughing, even when she goes.”

Mom’s sense of humour was wonderful throughout her life. Even at age 92 she joked about the weight she’d gained, saying loudly one day while shopping at the pharmacy, “Can’t wait until the baby is born,” as she patted her belly.

Joan was an avid golfer, beginning at Summerlea Golf & Country Club before moving to Toronto in 1977 and joining York Downs where she won the coveted Molly’s Mug. She loved to ski but confessed her favourite part was riding up the chairlift. She eventually retired her old leather buckle boots so she and Bob could become Snowbirds. They spent more than 20 winters golfing at Pelican Bay Golf Course in Florida.

In 2014, Joan and Bob moved to Calgary to live out their remaining years closer to family as family was always an important part of their lives. She loved her three children: Nancy (Gill) Ross, David (Catherine) and Glenna. She especially loved being Nanny to her grandchildren, spending many hours on every visit playing Crazy 8s with David, Kathryn (Aleksei), Christina (Brian), Caitlin, Tom, Marty and Reid. And over the past few years, delighted in her great-granddaughters Eleanor, Audrey and Sarah.

Famous for her molasses cookies we used as hockey pucks, always having a multitude of Kleenex, and for the time she noticed a man’s malfunctioning golf bag on an opposite fairway and yelled out, “Your zipper is undone and your balls are falling out” without quite thinking it through first, what our Precious Joanie will be best remembered for was her warm smile and kind heart.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date once travel is permitted again. In lieu of sending flowers or donations, please make someone laugh or smile today in Mom’s honour. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Joan’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

A special thank you to the amazing team at Providence Care Home in Calgary for keeping Mom safe during these COVID times and for their excellent care, love and compassion. Also, a big thank you to the staff at South Health Campus who kept her comfortable as she made her transition to reunite with Dad.

In living memory of Joan Turnbull, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.