Obituary of Joan Parker

June 14, 1932 – Cutknife, Saskatchewan

March 11, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Joan Parker of Calgary, Alberta, passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the age of 90 years.

Born in Cutknife, SK, to Lloyd and Jeane Dafoe, Joan lived in Baldwinton before moving with her family to Lethbridge, where she graduated from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. Joan attended the University of Alberta, becoming a Registered Nurse in 1953. She met her husband Ian in Edmonton, married in 1956, then moved to Regina until 1960, when they returned to Edmonton to raise their growing family before finally settling in Calgary in 1986.

Joan was fiercely intelligent, capable, and had an excellent sense of humour, all traits that helped her raise four children, which she often did on her own when Ian’s work took him out of town. She was a great reader; her children remember her putting her feet up in the kitchen every night after dinner with a good book. She loved to garden, and after Ian’s retirement the two enjoyed spending winters in Arizona. Joan and Ian were happily married for 56 years. Joan's family was the primary focus of her life, and she enjoyed babysitting grandchildren, welcoming everyone into their home in Calgary, and travelling, including to Hong Kong, to spend time with family. Joan took endless delight in her ten grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, Susan (Fons) of St. Albert, Steven (Leslie) of Hong Kong, Robert (Mary) of Calgary, and Janice (Tom) of Calgary, as well as her ten beloved grandchildren, Michael, Jennifer, Alexandra, Sabrina, Harper, Thomas, Brandon, Ian, Sam, and Christopher. Joan was overjoyed to welcome her first great-grandchild, Sloane, in 2022. She is also survived by her brother Terry Dafoe in Edmonton and many nieces and nephews.

Joan was predeceased by her husband, Ian, her brother Bruce, and her sisters-in-law Fay Dafoe and Joan Dafoe.

Joan’s family would like to thank the kind staff at Manor Village Fish Creek and AgeCare Midnapore for supporting her in her final years.

Condolences, memories, and photos can be shared here.

In living memory of Joan Parker, 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.