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JOAN ADAMS Obituary

August 13, 1932 ~ May 18, 2024
It's with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mother, Joan Adams.

Margaret Joan Adams (nee Balcaen) was born in Winnipeg and raised in Dauphin, Manitoba. After graduating from high school, she worked as a dental assistant which is where she met her future husband, Bob Adams. Bob was playing hockey with the Dauphin Kings at the time and had a tooth issue. He later teased that Mom convinced him to go out with her while he was under anesthetic.

Joan's passion was raising her six children. She was the primary caregiver, as Bob was often out of town with JN Pitts building roads throughout Northwestern Ontario. With a 16-year age span from the oldest to youngest child, Mom had a baby in diapers for most of her adult life, yet she found time for all of us. She insisted that we learn how to ski even though she didn't ski herself. She was well known by the ski racers for making the best lunches ever. Every summer,
she would pack up the station wagon for daily trips to Wild Goose Beach, including not only her own brood but also some of the neighbourhood kids. She was passionate about gardening and shared successes with dear neighbours on Avondale Place. Joan was renowned for her Sunday family prime rib dinners which morphed into an open invitation to all the families once grandchildren came along.

Mom spent many years volunteering at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital. She covered hundreds of kilometres ensuring that the public porter chairs were cleaned and in the right place at the Emergency and Main entrances. She was a long-time member of the hospital's quilting group and enjoyed presenting a crib quilt to the first baby born in Thunder Bay each January. Mom won several municipal awards for her contributions through volunteering. She was also presented with the Ontario Hospital Association's provincial award for volunteerism at a ceremony in Toronto.

Mom had many fond memories for time spent with her neighbours on Avondale Place, the ladies at St Elizabeth's, her friends and colleagues at Edgewater Park School, the moms from the Lake Superior Ski Division, the Quetico Quills, and the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital quilters.

Joan was loved and will be missed by children Kathy (Keith) in Kamloops, BC, Michael (Julie) in Barrie, Jennifer (Jean-Christophe) in Ottawa, and Greg (Sam), Steve (Maureen), Julie (John) all in Thunder Bay. Grandchildren Stephen and David (Kathy), Robert and Emily (Mike), Chloe and Damien (Jennifer), Kate, Jack and Eric (Steve), Gord, Bea and Gabi (Julie) could count on Grandma for a wide range of baking treats and her famous pub cheese spread, as well as for crafts and treasures found along her travels. Joan was predeceased by her brother George (Mackie) in Montreal and her sister Pat in Winnipeg.

The family would like to extend sincere thanks and gratitude to the exceptional staff at Southbridge Pinewood where Joan lived for the last three years of her life. They were kind, caring, visible, available at all times and provided excellent communication with family members.

Mom was a strong supporter of the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra for those who would like to make a contribution in her honour.

Kathy, Mike and Jennifer (out-of-town siblings) would like to thank Julie, Steve and Greg (in-town siblings) and their families for the care of both our parents over the years. The family will gather in the future to share memories and honour our mom.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal on May 25, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for JOAN ADAMS

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11 Entries

Bob Whiteside

July 5, 2024

Aunt Joan was an amazing human being. Though we only saw her twice face to face she remembered and loved us. We are very grateful to have crossed the beam of loving light that preceded her presence and thoughts. May she restin peace! We will never forget you!
Bob Whiteside, Seattle WA.

Carolyn Zakrewski

June 9, 2024

Our sincere condolences on the loss of your Mom. Love, Carolyn and Eric Zakrewski

David Zelinski

June 2, 2024

Our sincere condolences to all the Adams´s on the passing of your mother and grandmother. She raised a great family.

Jo-Anne Carol Richards

May 30, 2024

Joan was a lovely person, kind, generous and with a good sense of humor. She was a good friend when I taught at Edgewater. She made me and my husband a cookbook of some of her best recipes for our wedding. She surprised us with a visit when we lived in P.E.I. So sorry for your loss. James and Jo-Anne Richards.
London, Ontario

Diane Boivin

May 29, 2024

My condolences to the Adams family. Fond memories of a special friend and neighbour.

Richard Rinn

May 28, 2024

Both Joan and Bob Adams were good friends of my parents, Marion and Bud Rinn. Both were frequent welcome visitors to our house on West Isabella Street. Both were particularly kind to my mother after the premature death of of my father. So I know that my folks would very much have liked me to pass on the Rinn family's condolences to Joan's family at the time of her passing. People truly do live on as long as there are those who remember them!

Johan and Peter Houge

May 27, 2024

Our heartfelt sympathy to you and your Family Julie. Your Mother would be very proud of the lovely obituary you posted for her. The Matriarch of your family has journeyed onward however fond memories of times shared will continue to be a means of joy. with our love, Peter and Johan








Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to the Adams Clan. The Matriarch of the Adams family has journeyed onward, however precious memories remain to ease the sorrow. You were greatly blessed with a Mother as special as Joan as we were blessed to have her as a friend.

JoAnne Diakow

May 26, 2024

My deepest condolences to Kathy, Mike, Jenn, Julie, Steve,Greg and families for the loss of your amazing Mom. I spend many hours with Joan volunteering for the LSSD, and she was so kind and generous to everyone around her. She was also a wonderful volunteer at the Hospital. She and the quilting group produced amazing quilts to raffle, and there was always a line up of people waitng to buy tickets for their latest creation. All the recognition and awards she received for the countless hours she spent volunteering at the Hospital were well deserved. Thank you Joan for all that you did. Rest easy....

Craig Boivin

May 25, 2024

I have such warm memories growing up in the house next to Mrs. Adams and the kids. She will be missed.

Geof Botting

May 25, 2024

Jenn and family, I am sorry to read of your Mother's passing. My thoughts are with you.

Karen Paisley (Boivin)

May 25, 2024

So sorry for the Adams´ loss. As one of the Avondale neighbours I remember what a kind lady your mom was. She made the best "sippin´ sodas" and cookies! I cherish the personal recipe book she made me for my wedding.

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results

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for JOAN ADAMS

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