HALBERT, Joan Brown
April 14, 1931 – December 30, 2019
The end of a long journey has come for our beloved mother Joan Brown Halbert, of Nanton, Ab. Joan passed away in the Claresholm General Hospital on Dec. 30, 2019 and her peaceful presence will be missed. She was predeceased by her husband Charles A. Halbert (2002), and is survived by her 3 children, Karen Frances Powell of Bradford, Anne Buchanan Veres (David) of Nanton, and Michael Charles Halbert (Ruby) of Spokane. Joan is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Michael, Marc, Matthew, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Justina, Shade, Franklin, Harold, and Sally Joanne, 3 great grandchildren, Jack, Julia, and Eden, and one on the way.
Joan was born and raised in Chicago where she grew up in a large extended family. After graduating college and university she set out with a BSc. in Home Economics and went to work as a Dietician in High Point, North Carolina. While vacationing soon after in Miami Beach she met her future husband Chuck. The charismatic Canadian was living and working in Miami Beach and the couple married in 1956.
They relocated to Richmond, Virginia where Karen and Anne were born. In 1964 the family moved to Canada to be near Charles’s family who had generations of roots in the Cookstown and Alliston, Ontario area. Michael was born in Alliston and the family moved to Orillia in 1966 where they lived in a home on a hill overlooking 2 lakes. Endless hours were spent together enjoying swimming and picnics at Bass Lake.
Joan and Chuck moved to Barrie in the early 90’s and Joan spent the rest of her career employed with Simcoe Community Services. Here she taught special needs adults in an industrial kitchen how to cook. Together they cooked and served food to hundreds of people. Joan was loved by the adults she worked with, and by her coworkers. She remained there until retirement at 65.
Joan was a loving and kind, generous and genuine, curious, bright and intelligent, funny and witty, hard working and reliable, and down to earth woman who made friends wherever she went.
Joan held a strong Christian faith and it gave the family great comfort to know that she knew she would rest in peace and paradise in Heaven at the end of her life. She was a much loved and long-time member of the Bethel Community Church in Barrie.
It was within the Christian community where Joan made enriching and rewarding lifelong friendships. During this time in her life Joan devoted many hours cooking in the church kitchen. She looked forward to and enjoyed the camaraderie and socializing that came with volunteering and gathering. Joan was part of an industrious group of women that made thousands of greeting cards for Christian fundraising. She participated in countless events and especially those that needed a cook or kitchen help. Joan thrived during these years and will be remembered for her easy going nature and her delicious and masterful soups.
In 2017 Joan moved to Alberta to live with her daughter Anne and son in law David. In good health and happy during her golden years Joan enjoyed the simple things in life. She loved to sit outside and soak up the sun. Each day brought pleasure from the spectacular southern Alberta sunrises and sunsets, to the stars in the sky, watching horses and cows, and time spent with the family dog and companion Sok.
The family will gather privately in Barrie on March 8 to honor Joan. Anyone who would like to be included please contact Sue or leave a message below.
Joan’s baby portrait 
Joan at 19 years of age 
Joan at Graduation – 23 years of age 
Joan enjoying her cup of coffee 
Joan in her early 80’s 
Joan & Sok at the acreage, Spring 2019
Arrangements entrusted to Cochrane Country Funeral Home, Florence (Flo) Simpson, Funeral Director. Ph: 403-932-1039.
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Dear Ann and family I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. It is so nice you were able to spend the last years together 🙂 I always felt bad we didn’t connect up after you called me that time but my son was really unwell then and I was very distracted with worry.
I would really like to see you again but I understand this may no be a good time.
Thinking of you
Love Connie
text 705 321 8383
email morestuff135@gmail.com
Anne I was sorry to hear of Joan’s passing.We missed her in Bethels kitchen so much.Hope to see you in March.Love Marj. Dube
I had the pleasure of working with Joan for many years at Simcoe Community Services in Barrie. I remember her pleasant disposition and warm smile but I also learned, as did many others, “don’t mess with Joan”. The kitchen area and the programs she offered to people we served was her domain. She had a natural skill of passing along to others her culinary expertise and a great many people over the years benefited greatly as a result of this.
Although she was a bit older than most of the staff she liked to join in whenever there was something celebrate; and back in the day we found plenty to celebrate! Joan was often there with us.
To Joan’s family, your Mother was a special person who made the lives of many of those less fortunate better and for people like me grateful for having known her!
She will be missed.
Ken Lees,
Barrie, ON
Hi Anne Sorry to hear about your Mom.I really missed her when moved out to Alberta.I hope to see you on March 8th. It was nice to have known your Mom.We will see again one day. My prayers are with you. June Blundell.
sorry to hear about wonderful lady who was like teacher and mentor to the kitchen of simcoe communty services thats why i wouldnt mess with joan halbert she was helper at the bethels lunch bunch and other bethel events and joan was very good christain woman who loved the lord and looked after her daughter karen
Dear Anne and David, Sox too.
Although I only knew Joan for a couple of years, I was impressed with her quick wit and easy smile.
She was a lovely person to spend time with and I will remember her fondly.
Werner and Liqourice