Obituary of Joan Sylvia Webber

January 20, 1926 - Harrow, England

February 17, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

On Thursday, February 17, 2022, at the age of 96 years Joan Webber (nee Sims) passed away peacefully in Calgary.

Joan was born in Harrow, England and grew up in the village of Croxley Green just 20 miles northwest of London. Her life changed immensely when her father’s work as an auditor for Canadian Pacific Railway required a move to Canada. After months of waiting, in January 1941 they made a 10-day crossing of the North Atlantic, where they endured rough seas and the risk of U boats attacking.

She often talked about how difficult her first year in Montreal was, in part because the family could bring only the equivalent of $20.00 per person out of England. Her parents were often chastised for letting her brother Dennis wear shorts in the middle of winter, but they couldn’t afford to buy him long pants. Arriving mid-way through the school term, Joan struggled with the new curriculum which included Canadian History and French. Instead of repeating Grade 10, she chose to go to secretarial school, and those skills served her well throughout her working life.

In 1947 Joan moved to Calgary to rejoin her parents and met her husband George as they worked together in BYPU (Baptist Young Peoples Union). Over their 45 years together they raised four children and worked together in church ministry and the family business, F.G. Webber Hardware.

After George’s death in 1995, Joan bought a condo in Westhills and lived independently until several bad falls led to a move into Father Lacombe Care Centre at age 94. Joan developed many friendships with her caregivers and several other residents and was well loved there.

Joan was also predeceased by her parents Frederick and Winnifred Sims, and her only brother Dennis. She is survived by her four children, Linda (Rupert) Wilson, Ken (Julie) Webber, Catherine Webber, and Ron (Lisa) Webber; and her five grandchildren, Christina Miller (Jeff), Joshua Wilson (Glynis), Markus Webber, as well as Max Webber and Sarah Webber (Dave Smith) (and their mother Glenda Leznoff). Joan is also survived by her two great-grandsons, Thaddeus, and Nehemiah Miller.

A Memorial Service will be held at Bonavista Baptist Church (1507 Acadia Drive SE, Calgary, AB) on Friday, February 25, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian Baptist Ministries - Bolivia Project at https://www.cbmin.org/donate/.

In living memory of Joan Webber, 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.