JOAN DORIS JARVIS

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JOAN DORIS JARVIS Peacefully, at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital, surrounded by family, Joan Doris Jarvis (nee LeCain), age 79 years, of Winnipeg and Rush Bay, Lake of the Woods. Predeceased by her husband Paul Jarvis, parents Henry and Lena LeCain, and brothers James and William LeCain. Survived by her sister Carol (Terry) Lunny, daughters Elizabeth (Ian Handford), Catherine, and Mary Ellen Jarvis, her beloved grandson Henry Jarvis Handford, and many dear nieces and nephews. Joan was born in Kenora, Ontario in 1933, and as a young woman began her adventures by hitchhiking to the Yukon and sailing to Europe by steamer at a time when such travel was out of the ordinary. She returned to work as an administrator, and while working at the Silver Falls generating station, she met Paul Jarvis. They were married in Kenora, Ontario in 1958. Her marriage to Paul was a true partnership, driven by a common passion for wilderness, travel, politics, engineering, and the arts. Their passions inspired not only their daughters, but nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. As a homemaker and mom she was resourceful and creative. She and Paul built two cabins at the lake from the ground up. Joan sourced out antique furniture, canned fruit and vegetables, and made wild berry jams. She sewed clothing and upholstery and delighted in designing and creating unique Hallowe'en costumes. In the 1970s she enrolled at the University of Manitoba in the Faculty of Fine Arts. She came home each day with her work-boots and jeans covered in paint and clay, to cook the family dinner and listen to, and encourage, her teenage daughters. A skillful and imaginative artist, she worked mainly with clay. Her pieces were sold and displayed in many galleries and she was the recipient of Manitoba Arts Council and Canada Council Grants, including one to research the incorporation of gemstones into porcelain. As founding Chair of the Board of Directors of Artspace, she was a driving force behind the renovation of Winnipeg's Gault Building into a vibrant centre for a number of Winnipeg's visual art and literary organizations. Joan was a talented athlete - she loved to skate and cross-country ski and excelled in many sports. She was an accomplished wilderness traveller. She organized and, with Paul, led family trips on Lake of the Woods by canoe, sailboat, a wooden lake-fishing boat, a vintage steel-hulled cruiser, and by kayak. In her 60s and 70s she kayaked Atlin Lake, BC, the Yukon River and circumnavigated the Aulneau Peninsula of Lake of the Woods with all-woman crews made up of relatives and friends. She also travelled to Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, West Africa, and many North American destinations, and often sought out connections with the craftspeople of each region. Her taste for adventure extended beyond physical challenges: she read widely, took on Bach at the piano, and was an early user of computer technology in her work as administrator of Paul's consulting business. She was an enthusiastic birdwatcher and observer of the natural world. She enjoyed the company of a long succession of quirky, affectionate Pembroke Welsh Corgis and some notable felines. Joan could start a fire in any weather. She was a center of comfort, warmth and inspiration, and she will never be forgotten. A celebration of Joan's life will be held in Kenora at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 25, at the Southview Inn and Bistro, 805 St. Clair Street (on Highway 17), Keewatin, Ontario P0X 1C0 (807) 547-2471. There will also be an informal open house at Joan's Winnipeg residence at 112-456 Kenaston Boulevard on Saturday, July 27, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., (204) 284-5455. For more information please call (807) 733-3612. In her later years, Joan cared for Paul as he suffered from a debilitating disease. Donations may be made in her name to the Alzheimer's Society of Manitoba designated for Lewy Body Dementia research: 10-120 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 4G2; www.alzheimer.mb.ca. Alcock Funeral Home & Cremation Services Ltd., (Kenora) in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 24, 2013