Joan McDONALD

McDONALD, Joan
Joan McDonald (Chisholm) of Rocky Mountain House (RMH), Alberta died peacefully at home with her loved ones on April 4, 2015. Born April 17, 1935, daughter of John Alexander Chisholm 'Jack' of Margaree Forks, Nova Scotia and Marie Bidart of Bayonne, France, she was descended from Donald Gow Chisholm, the bard of Strathglass. Joan is survived by her loving husband Pat McDonald; children, Carolyn Kent of RMH, Bruce McDonald (Donna Davis) of Edmonton, and Michael McDonald (Claire Kent) of London, England; sisters, Jean Mahoney (Regina), Noreen Reid (Ernest Reid) of Edmonton, and Maureen Aquino of San Mateo, Ca. She leaves behind her grandchildren: Alexandra and Sarah Kent; Jacqueline and Stuart McDonald, and Edan Pounder; Ellen and Rachel McDonald; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Joan had an unwavering dedication to her family, faith, and community. An elementary school teacher for 35 years, she touched the lives of many students and particularly enjoyed her later role working with children who had special needs. She was a three-term City Councillor for Grande Prairie and a four-term Councillor for the Town of Rocky Mountain House. Joan was a natural leader and a compassionate doer who had a strong instinct for knowing what needed to be done to reach out to help those in need. She rolled up her sleeves and gathered people around her to make the community a better place. Her volunteer commitments are far too numerous to mention, but wherever she lived she blazed trails and made a positive impact with her characteristic warmth, wisdom, humour, and work ethic.
More than anything else, Joan cherished her roles of wife, mother, and grandmother, and her love and smile will remain with us forever.
You will be dearly missed.