Joan SOLONINKA

JOAN SOLONINKA (née Hinton) November 8, 1928 - December 29, 2018 Joan was born in Kapuskasing, Ontario to Ralph and Jenny Hinton, emigres from West Hartlepool, UK. The family moved to Kingston, where Joan and her brother, Norman, grew up, living in a small house near where Victoria Hall, Queen's University, now stands. An excellent student at KCVI, Joan went on to Nursing at Queen's and the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. Joan left nursing to marry the love of her life, Harry Soloninka, a Queen's Civil Engineer. In 1952, they set up home at 8 1/2 Bond St. in St. Catharines, where Christine, Catharine and John were born. In 1958, Joan and Harry moved to Regina, Saskatchewan and in 1963, to Toronto, to build a beautiful modern house in Hogg's Hollow. With her husband often travelling, Joan became an incredibly resourceful, self-reliant wife, mother and friend; the "rock" of the family and extended family. Always available to her children, their spouses, in-laws and friends in need, with an open house and spare bed for all. Active initially in the United Church, Joan later volunteered tirelessly for the Metro Children's Aid Society, and Kinark Child and Youth, ultimately becoming President of the C.A.S. in Toronto. Joan was an avid bridge and tennis player, Toronto Cricket Club member for over 40 years, world traveller, artist, and chess player, but fiercely reluctant skier - preferring warm coffee and a good book in the chalet. Joan was generous, loving and giving, and will be sorely missed by her children and their spouses, Christine and Hershel Berkowitz, Catharine and James Edwards, and John and Tracy Soloninka; grandchildren and spouses, Jody, Michael and Raven, Joshua, Jessica and Richard, Rebecca and Tony, Julian, Deanna; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Jeremy, AJ, and Griffin. Joan was predeceased in 1988 by husband, Harry, with whom she shared 37 incredible years. Having lived a vigorous, active life, she had been in declining health for the last few years. We are extremely grateful for the wonderful team at Trilogy Chartwell Long Term Care who created an excellent home for Joan. In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated to Kinark Foundation, or the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada. Visitation with the family will be held 5-8 p.m., Friday, January 11, 2019, RS Kane Funeral Home, 6150 Yonge Street, Toronto. Spoken words and music at 6:30 p.m.