Obituary of Joan Valerie Stuart
Joan Valerie Stuart died peacefully in the early hours of Saturday November 22, 2014 in her home at McGarrell Place in London. She was surrounded by the love of family and friends right to the end. She is predeceased by her dearly missed sister Yolande Willitts of Myrtle Beach and survived by her loving husband Clarence “Stu” of McGarrell Place, London, and her devoted brother Garry Ferrier who lives in Toronto. Joan and Stu did many things together as they travelled the world, ran the family businesses, and raised their two children Barbara-Jo “Jocelain”, of Paris, Ontario and Robert Bruce “Bob”, of Ingersoll. Grandchildren Erin Michelle and Holt Keenan Stuart-Hitchcox spent precious time with Grandma at the end of her over 90 years on earth as did her beloved daughter-in-law Carol Stuart. Erin and Dayan Boyce have two children who graced Joan’s life with great-grandson Logan Alexander and soon-to-arrive great-granddaughter. Step-grandchildren Adam, Mark, Cherie, and Christine Dalton all fell into Joan’s circle of love of her big adopted family. Son-in-law Stephen Hitchcox in Toronto admired her sunny disposition and clever wit. Joan was born in Nottingham, England on December 15, 1923 and grew up near London, England until her family immigrated to Canada in the early 1930s. The family lived in Toronto and briefly Kitchener, spending their summers on Centre Island. Joan describes her childhood as the happiest she could imagine, surrounded by the support and love of her mother Delia “Pat” A’Hern and father Alan Ramsey Ferrier. Her career passion was office work and bookkeeping. She met the love of her life shortly after the war in 1947 and they married months later and moved to Val d’Or, Quebec where they lived and ran a furniture store for 18 years. In 1965, they moved to London, Ontario and opened a boutique men’s shoe store on Dundas Sreet. Several years later they bought a farm outside of London where Mom was able to ride her horses Gold and Junior. Joan and Stu travelled, golfed, skied, played tennis, and cycled together enjoying the great outdoors near and far. When they sold the farm and retired in London, they owned a winter retreat near Sarasota, Florida for a few years. Mom loved music, art, clothes, and people with a passion. She always looked incredibly put-together and her inner peace and outward grace were extended to all. She was ready to move on in her journey and died after a full and contented life: in her words, “a wonderful life”. We will be celebrating her life at WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North on Thursday November 27, 2014 at 2:00 p.m., with visitation one hour prior. Private family interment at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
