Remembering Joan

April 26,1939 – December 17, 2021

On December 17, 2021, Joan Louise Fullerton of Vernon, British Columbia, passed away unexpectedly from a stroke. She was 82. Joan was born in Hamilton, Ontario on April 26, 1939.

Joan was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, known for her extraordinary level of energy and enthusiasm. She loved to entertain and was a cornerstone of her many communities – always the anchor of her neighborhoods, bringing people together for a coffee, glass of wine or a social-distanced cocktail in the driveway. On a wintery day, you could be sure to see Joan out there with her shovel, ready to lend a hand to whoever needed it.

Joan found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She took pride in the accomplishments of her three children and delighted in spending time with her grandchildren, who benefited from her endless creativity during their visits. She loved spending time over the years in her many gardens, which were the envy of all who witnessed the magic of her green thumb. She took great pleasure in transforming a barren spot of earth into a colorful canvas of flowers that seemed to blossom effortlessly year after year. She was still hauling loads of topsoil and mulch well into her 70s. Joan was also a voracious reader, with a stack of books a constant on her nightstand. She could easily sit in noisy room with an open book on her lap, oblivious to the chaos around her.

She spent many an afternoon baking for friends and family, and there was never a night that passed without dessert under Joan’s watch. Idle hands were foreign to her – she had a love of crafting, knitting, and sewing and her trusty knitting bag was never far. She spent countless hours hand-making hundreds of items for family, friends and people she didn’t even know, each stitch a true expression from her heart.

Joan was a dedicated volunteer and committed to helping others, whether she knew them or not. She was a passionate lifelong member of the Girl Guides of Canada, with over 60 years of service, and her family can recall many times when their garage was overflowing with cookies for the annual fundraising campaign. In recent years, she was a regular volunteer at Vernon Jubilee Hospital Auxiliary, working in the hospital gift shop, assisting with the local vaccine clinics, and participating in the auxiliary fundraising activities.

Although Joan spent most of her adult life in eastern Canada, she moved to Alberta in 1978 for 9 years. She embraced the western lifestyle, taking advantage of the Rocky Mountains in her backyard and enjoyed many years of skiing, camping and exploring with her family before moving back to her hometown of Sarnia in 1986. In 2012 she and Ted moved to Vernon, British Columbia to be closer to family and have enjoyed 9 years of Okanagan living since that time.

Since her passing, our family has been overwhelmed but not surprised by the outpouring of love and gratitude for her. Joan is survived by her husband Edward (Ted), her children Nancy (Larry), Judy (Bruce) and Gord (Heather), grandchildren Hannah and Wyatt, her sister Marilyn, brother Bill and all her nieces and nephews.  We all take comfort in the knowledge that she touched so many through her generous spirit and zest for life.

During these unusual times of the pandemic, we will not be holding a formal funeral service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Girl Guides of Canada or the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Auxiliary

Arrangements Entrusted to Vernon Funeral Home 250-542-0155 Condolences may be offered at www.vernonfuneralhome.com