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. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joan Brown Halbert, please visit our flower store.
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. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joan Brown Halbert, please visit our flower store.
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