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Joan  Petersen Joan  Petersen Joan  Petersen Joan  Petersen Joan  Petersen Joan  Petersen Joan  Petersen Joan  Petersen Joan  Petersen Joan  Petersen Joan  Petersen

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Joan Petersen

February 21, 1930 - August 24, 2024

Tribute

On Saturday, august 24, 2024, Mrs. Joan Margaret Petersen of Oliver passed away at the Penticton Regional Hospital at the age of 94 years.

Full obituary will be posted soon.

A funeral mass will be celebrated by Fr. Peter Tompkins at 11:00 am, Friday August 30, 2024 at Christ the King Catholic Church with a reception to follow in the church lower hall.

Condolences

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Pages: 12

From: Donna Cooke
Relation: Friend

I’m so sad. Joan always such a beautiful special friend . You just wanted to hug her when you saw her. I loved that she was spicey and always a twinkle in her eye and heart . She was timeless and I’m so sad. I thought she would live forever and will in my heart . Having a gin for her tonight.

From: Sharon Pohl
Relation: We worked together

My sincere sympathy to Joan’s family. She was wonderful to work with and a pleasure to know. She loved to laugh and had a sparkle in her eyes. She loved her family, loved her work and always gave her best in whatever she did. A very special lady. May you find comfort in your memories and may God give you peace.

From: Frank Jones
Relation: She came to Canada with my mother, and was a lifelong friend to our family.

Aunt Joan, was literally with me, or very nearby for my entire life, as well as all of the Jones clan. Joan, and Hank were so important, because they were always unobtrusively but definitely solidly supportive of everyone around them, but were also such good role models, because they were so very sensible, and practical. Joan was the last real thread to our shared Australian heritage, and she was greatly loved – I will miss her. With sincere condolences to the family.

From: Ryan family
Relation: family

Even though we were separated by half a world, our family always felt the love, and support of Aunty Joan. Her strength, and resilience, no doubt as a result of growing up with four brothers, helped our family enormously during challenging times. Aunty Joan, always made it a priority to ensure that distance was no impediment. Being included in the family with her regular phone calls to our mother, Trina, and the regular updates on our Canadian family.

The Okanagan Valley provided a safe haven for wayward Australian nieces, and nephews where we were welcomed with open arms by Joan and Hank, supported, nurtured, and sent back out into the world restored, and ready to face new challenges.

Our favourite story about Aunty Joan, was when she was working at St Vincent’s hospital here in Sydney. This hospital is next to the red-light district, and had a large number of sex workers as patients which Aunty Joan always treated with care and respect, despite the prevailing views of society at that time. The nurses had been invited to a society ball, but didn’t have the fancy gowns to wear. In a true Cinderella moment, the day before the ball, a group of large burly men arrived at the hospital carrying boxes of gowns, and jewellery. A well-known madam had got wind of the nurse’s predicament and had provided the gowns in thanks for looking after her girls.

To our cousins, and your families, we send you all our love, and thoughts. Joan’s spirit, and values live on in you. She was always so proud of her family.

With all our love,

Genelle, Melissa, Tim, Talina, Jenny, Anthony, Lolina, Felix and Xana.

From: Ann Nunes
Relation: Knew Joan from church, and through Kathy and Karen

Kathy, Karen and family
I will remember your Mom and our chats before or after mass at church.
She always had a hug and a smile for me, and enjoyed a few laughs with her.
May you hold precious memories of her close to your hearts.
Thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Ann

From: Libby Ryan
Relation: Niece

Joan Petersen ( nee Ryan)
Joan, such a loving and constant presence in our lives despite the tyranny of distance. As Matriarch of the Ryan family Joan will be remembered as a couragous, witty and loving aunt who was always welcoming. Ever the nurse, and always the repository of Ryan family memories, her generosity of spirt and kindness will be remembered always.
Heartfelt Condolences to our Canadian cousins and their families. Much love from Australian cousins,
Helen, Libby, Marg and families.

From: Al and Patsy Hartman
Relation: Over the Hedge nedighbour.

We were so shocked to have heard of Joan’s passing. Had just talked to her a week or so before on the street with her daughter. We are neighbours across the cedar hedge and first met Joan when she snuck through the hedge to introduce herself to the new neighbours(Us). We were in our back yard sitting with friends, soon after moving into our Tucelnuit home. Suddenly heard a voice. “Yahoo, Yahoo”. We all looked around not knowing where the voice was coming from. Suddenly we saw a senior lady behind our old ca, we have, in the corner of the yard. Hi I’m Joan your neighbour over the hedge. Just wanted to welcome you” It was so sweet. Several months later, we learned that her daughter, Karen, taught with my Wife Patsy in Burns Lake back in the early 90’s. We will greatly miss our, “Over the hedge neighbour”. Rest In Peace Joan.

From: Nancy Thomas
Relation: Friend

Our condolences to Joan’s family. Once a nurse …always a nurse! Joan was the ultimate nurse/…. compassionate, caring and courageous….her life was full and she made a difference !

From: Mark and Audrey Silbernagel
Relation: Community members.

We have good memories of lovely conversations whenever we met. Mrs. Petersen was always upbeat and pleasant to talk with, and we appreciated her kindness and interest in our family. Our condolences to all family members in Canada near and far.

From: Midge & Bill Jory
Relation: Friends

When we arrived in Oliver in 1958 as ‘newby’ teachers we were welcomed by the staff and the community, but Hank and Joan Petersen were the first people to welcome us into their home and that began a lasting friendship. We have many memories of social occasions with them often involving their six children and our three; their Karen and our Janet were especially good friends in elementary school. Coincidentally Hank and Bill moved from SOSS to the Osoyoos school at the same time and taught there together from some 10 years until Hank joined the administration at Oliver Elementary. Joan was always in this picture, sharing, providing, organizing .
Joan dealt with many stages in her life: growing up in Australia; travelling to an unknown location and job in Oliver; nursing and marrying a Danish D.P. (as Hank often referred to himself); bearing and raising 6 children on a teacher’s limited salary supplemented by some nursing shifts; working in and supporting her church; finally, dealing with widowhood after a few years of retirement. And throughout all this she was “a brick” — always empathetic, resourceful, encouraging, and a solid basis for her family and friends.
We moved from the Okanagan to Duncan in 1975, but visited Oliver/Osoyoos 2 or 3 time a year as long as we could and always, always visited the Petersens. We found a visit with Joan was a real ‘pick me up’. Her positive view of life and her ability to see the silver lining in a situation (even when that lining was very small) was a healing experience. We understood her need to live “independently” as long as she possibly could but it was definitely becoming less possible. In her last note to us in June she described her grand-daughter’s wedding in Kamloops outdoors on a ranch, which must have been difficult for her, but her comment was “All in all I  had a wonderful  time as I resided like the Queen in my wheel chair.” That was Joan. We join her family and all who knew her in missing her and her indomitable spirit.

Pages: 12

Service Schedule

  Funeral Mass

Date & Time:
August 30, 2024
Beginning at 11:00am

Location:
Christ the King Catholic Church
6044 Spartan Street
Oliver, BC Canada

A funeral mass will be celebrated by Fr. Peter Tompkins at 11:00 am, Friday August 30, 2024 at Christ the King Catholic Church with a reception to follow in the church lower hall.

6044 Spartan Street
Oliver, BC Canada

Memorial Gifts

The family has not designated a preferred charity at this time.

Thank You Notice

Send Flowers

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6049 Main Street, Oliver, BC
https://www.flowerfantasyoliver.com/
Local: (250) 498-0088     Toll free: (844) 498-0088

Flowers on Main & Reis Boutique
5859 Main Street, Oliver, BC
https://www.oliverflorist.com/
Local: (778) 439-2270     Toll free: (800) 665-9983

Gems and Stems at Eastside
6496 Park Drive, Oliver, BC
https://gemsandstems.com/
(250) 826-0438

Polka Dot Door Floral Design Boutique
8522 Main Street, Osoyoos, BC
https://www.polkadotdoor.net/
(250) 495-2226

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