JOAN HENDERSON

HENDERSON, Joan
1922-2013
Joan Henderson (née Parkins) passed away on June 1, 2013. A lifelong resident of Ottawa, she was an active and enthusiastic volunteer with many local charities and causes. She was a former board member of Skate Canada, Selkirk Communications, The Stratford Festival, and The Ottawa Civic Hospital Foundation Board.
The past years have been difficult for Joan since her beloved husband Gordon Fripp Henderson died. She faced her declining health with determination and pride. It was a great joy for the family that "Nana Joan" got to see her great-grandchildren, William, Patrick, Charlotte and Angus before her passing. Noah and Anthony will hear stories about their Nana.
She is survived by her children: Joanne (Rob Nelson), Gordon (Pam Spence), Bob (Margot Peck) and her grandchildren: Meredith (Keith Donahue), Gregor (Alexia Halbart) and Gordon Nelson; Stuart (Sarah Lowy), Kate (Michael Viner) and Elizabeth Henderson; Ceilidh, Meghan and Quinn Henderson (and their mother Kathleen).
Joan lived an active and fulfilling life before her illness. She was a champion figure skater in her youth and stayed passionately involved with skating all her life. She took on every task with determination and skill: from her charity work and business endeavors to her famous, and always plentiful, chocolate chip cookies. But most of all she was a devoted mother and doting grandmother.
The family wants to thank her diligent caregivers, from Retire at Home agency. They developed a special bond with our mother and we will be forever grateful.
A memorial service for Joan, our mother, will be held at The Church of St. Bartholomew, 125 MacKay Street, Ottawa on Friday, July 12, 2013 at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan's name to The Gordon and Joan Henderson Endowment Fund at Ottawa Hospital or The Gordon and Joan Henderson Family Fund at the Community Foundation of Ottawa would be gratefully appreciated.