Joanne MORROW

Joanne Morrow, suddenly on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Joanne was at home, alone, preparing for the busy week ahead when she was taken from us far too soon. Joanne was the eldest of four girls, survived by her sisters, Elizabeth Mathew (Richard), Rosalind Morrow, and Catherine Morrow (Norman Nurmi). She was mother to Christos and Adele Gigantes, stepmother to Clea Gigantes, and Gramma-Jo to Liam, Ava and Mirah. Joanne is also survived by her mother, Pat Morrow, 101, a resident of Briton House in Toronto. The family is heartbroken by the sudden loss of our beautiful Jo – a source of humour, artistic and political analysis, imagination, kindness, and fantastic cooking. She will be missed by so many. Joanne was married briefly to David Roffey and moved from Toronto to Ottawa. She remained in Ottawa and began her stellar career as an arts administrator with the Canada Council and later music producer at the National Arts Centre. With her second husband and love of her life, Terry Gigantes, she moved to Paris for five years where she continued her work in the arts and had her two children, Christos and Adele. When they returned to Ottawa, she returned to the Canada Council, becoming head of music. After Terry's untimely death, Joanne moved to Banff to lead the Banff Centre. From there she was poached by Cirque de Soleil where she was in charge of artistic development – with all performing artists in 35 shows and 17 countries reporting to her. She later moved from Montreal to Toronto where she was welcomed by her mother and sisters. She was a frequent travel partner with Rosalind and a source of support for all the family. Joanne's beauty and charm were striking. She was a loving sister, mother, aunt, and grandmother and will be missed terribly. The service in Joanne's honour will be on Friday, May 3 at 3 p.m. at Rosedale United Church.