JOAN R. BINKLEY

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JOAN R. BINKLEY It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear Joannie - Joan Roslyn Binkley - on Thursday August the 20th. She died at her home outside of Winnipeg, cradled by her loving daughter Laura, with her nephew Bryan by her side. Joan is survived by her daughter Laura, brother Jack, sister Doreen (Arthur) Gomm, brother Alan (Beverley) and many devoted nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Norman in 2005. Joan was born in Toronto on March 13th, 1925, the second of four children of John and Emily Dormer. The family settled in Ottawa where Joan, along with her trio of life-long friends (Marion, Ruth and Jean), spent what she always described as an idyllic childhood. A rambunctious tom-boy in an age of quiet young ladies, Joan channeled her natural energy into every athletic pursuit possible. From early figure skating lessons to her teenage years competing in women's semi-professional tennis, Joan was always out running, swimming, climbing - never sitting still. Joan was incredibly proud of both her parents, who had independently chosen to leave England and start new lives in Canada, where they met. She was proud of her mother's courage and determination to move forward and better herself, despite the era's attitudes towards women. And Joan absolutely adored her father, who served in the trenches for all of World War I, returning home with medical problems that were to hound him for the rest of his life. Joan admired the uncomplaining way her father shouldered his burden of ill-health, never letting it impact his children or erode his playful enjoyment of life. Joan was so like her father, with his kid leather dancing shoes and flair for the bright spots in life. After high school Joan received an education in mechanical drafting, and began her career at the National Research Council in Ottawa, where her work often involved being privy to very secretive intelligence. For years, she kept silent about the fact that U-boats had been spotted traveling down the St. Lawrence River at the height of the battle for the Atlantic. Joan had an iron-clad work ethic. Being employed, contributing to the household, was a fundamental tenet of Joan's character. When she found it impossible to find a drafting position in Winnipeg (particularly difficult as a woman after the war), she started a new career in bookkeeping, first at Automobile Supply and then with Mr. Ritter and her comfortable work family at The Camera Shop. Joan married Norman Binkley on August 20th, 1944 and they were posted to Costal Command in Summerside, PEI, starting a lifelong love of the sea. After the war Joan and Norm spent a number of years in full-time farming with Norman's family in Springfield. Moving to the prairies was a difficult transition for Joan. In addition to being separated from family and friends, she found the unending flatness of the landscape alarming, and the isolation of the rural setting daunting. It was not long before they both resumed their careers, commuting to full-time positions in Winnipeg while slowly building up their own farming operations. Joan and Norman each spoke of how they had married as children and grown up together. With a shared love of nature, sports, and the great outdoors , they had strong fundamental common values. But they were also friends. In 61 years of marriage they never stopped talking to each other, setting new goals and testing new ideas. At the end of their time together, Joan was there to support Norman in his long, final battle with cancer, keeping him at home to the end. More than anything else in life Joan wanted children, but she had pretty much given up hope after more than twenty years of marriage without. Being Joannie, she made the best of this situation by having as much as possible to do with the children around her. She was like a second mother to her sister-in-law Helen Hammond's children Bryan, Alana and Suzanne. She was quite literally a mother to her brother's daughter Eleanor May Dormer, who she raised as her own from the age of 13 on. In 1966, Joan was surprisingly granted the long awaited first-hand experience of motherhood with the birth of her daughter Laura. Such a blessing it was for Joannie who had took such satisfaction and joy showering Laura with a lifetime of love, care and attention. She was honestly the absolutely best mother in the world. Leaving work in the city but continuing on with the farm, Joan now that the opportunity to put her energies into beautifying the grounds learning as much as possible about how to grow the most amazing variety of flowers and veggies, right from seed. Throughout her life, people - regardless of age or background - were drawn to Joannie. She made devoted, life-long friends all the way alongFor the most distinctive thing about Joan was her truly beautiful nature. The positive attitude, the focus on what's ahead and not behind talking to her just made everyone feel so much better about themselves and life in general. She never let circumstances - no matter how dire and seemingly unfair - permanently weigh down the spirit of her soul. She took whatever fate or life dealt her with as much optimism as is allowed in human nature. Right to the end she felt lucky. Such a bright little light was our dear, dear Joannie. How much we will all miss her and how lucky we all were to have known her in the first place. How much less the world seems without her - but how much she would hate us to feel that way. Our most sincere and heartfelt thanks go out to the wonderful, caring woman of the North Eastman Healthcare Authority, who made it possible for Joan to spend her final days in her own home, surrounded by the trees and flowers she spent her lifetime nurturing. Your honest concern for Joannie's welfare made us both feel like we were welcoming family into our home. A Celebration of Joan's Life will be held at 2pm on Wednesday, September 2nd at Green Acres Memorial Gardens on Highway #1 in Springfield. A reception will follow at the Binkley home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Winnipeg Humane Society. GREEN ACRES Funeral Home and Cemetery 1 Green Acres Lane, Springfield (204) 222-3241 Hwy #1 East inside the Perimeter at Winnipeg Condolences may be sent to: www.greenacresmemorial.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 29, 2009