Joan NICOL

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NICOL: Joan. Died peacefully on December 5, 2011 at Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver B.C. after a brief period of ill health. She will be remembered lovingly by her family and relatives - sons John of West Vancouver B.C. and Patrick of Vernon B.C. and brother L. W. (Bill) Ellis and wife Jo of Dartmouth N.S. Also many nieces, nephews, other close relatives, and friends in Canada and the United Kingdom. Joan was a kind and wise lady who held a strong Christian faith and belief in traditional values, family, home, practical solutions, and neighbourliness. She was born at home in Hessle, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, U.K. Her early years were happy ones tempered by the trials and dangers of the Depression and then World War II. Joan graduated from Hull College of Commerce and started work as a legal secretary in Hull and London. In 1945, she met her husband, Laurence, who was stationed with the RCAF in Yorkshire. They corresponded by letter after the war and then were married in 1947 in a garden ceremony on the farm in Petrel Manitoba. Joan led an active life in community, church, and school affairs raising her family in Brandon Manitoba. She remained very close to her beloved mother, Olive Mary Ellis, periodically exchanging lengthy visits between Canada and the U.K.  In 1966 the family moved to the more temperate climate of Ripple Road in West Vancouver B.C. where, until her death, Joan delighted in her home and garden activities, cooking, and intellectual pursuits with reading and, in the later years, use of her computer. Her formative war experiences engendered a realistic no-nonsense approach to the challenges of life that served her admirably in self-managing treatment of her heart condition for over 20 years. Throughout her life, Joan maintained an intense interest in current affairs, politics, history, philosophy, and ideas and gifted that passion to her family. Joan was predeceased by her beloved husband of 54 years, Laurence (Nick). The family gives special thanks to the staff of Lions Gate Hospital for their consideration and care. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 2:00 PM at Hollyburn Funeral Home, 1807 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, B.C. Flowers gratefully declined. Donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Joan's memory. Hollyburn Funeral Home 604-922-1221 www.hollyburnfunerals.com

As published in Brandon Sun on Dec 10, 2011