JOAN ODDNY PARR (ASGEIRSON)

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JOAN ODDNY PARR (nee ASGEIRSON) Joan passed away suddenly on November 5, 2001 with her family at her side at the Health Sciences Centre. Joan is survived by her beloved husband of 47 years, John; her daughters, Kristin Parr (Dan Inge), Louise Torfason (Jamie) and her grandchildren, Amanda and Eric Torfason; her sisters, Edna (Hrebna) Borgford, Thora Dubois (Ron) her sisters-in-law, Marg Asgeirson and Kay Asgeirson, numerous nieces, nephews and other family members in Canada, U.S. and Iceland. She was predeceased by her parents, Jon and Oddny Asgeirson; her brothers, Archie (Asgeir), George and Paul; her brother-in-law Scotty Borgford and sisters-in-law, Gladys Asgeirson and Ellen Asgeirson; also by her niece Ellenmae Asgeirson. Joan grew up in the Icelandic Community of the West End of Winnipeg and attended D.M.C.I. and was active in the Unitarian Church. She received her B.A. in Literature from the University of Manitoba. Jack and Joan married in 1954 and spent two and one half years in London, England. After their return from London, Jack and Joan raised two daughters. Joan taught in several rural schools, Vincent Massey, The Rehab Centre, The U. of M. and the Adult Education Centre. In 1974 Joan started Queenston House Publishing which she put her heart and soul into and as a result was awarded the Woman of the Year in Arts in 1981. Joan helped to launch the careers of many Manitoba writers through her work in publishing. In 1991 Joan started work for Hansard at the Manitoba Legislature were she made many dear friends. For more than 20 years Joan and Jack attended a Gourmet Club with their close friends and neighbours. Joan had an incredible love for life and it showed in everything she did, she loved gardening and spent many hours planning and tending her yard. Gimli was always close to her heart and she spent most of her summers in Loni Beach at her brothers cottage and later at the family cottage. Joan fulfilled a dream when she visited Iceland, her parents homeland for the first time last February with Jack, her sister Thora and brother-in-law Ron where she met many family members. Joan was loved dearly by her husband and best friend Jack, her two daughters, Kristin and Louise; her grandchildren, Amanda and Eric, her son-in-law Jamie and Kristins friend Dan. Joan was always encouraging and loving and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She will always remain in our hearts. Special thanks to the H.S.C. Trauma Centre and Doctor Yip for all their efforts. Funeral services will be held Friday, November 9, 2:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Church, 603 Wellington Crescent.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 07, 2001