Joan Graf

June 28, 1938 - February 28, 2024

In loving memory ~

Our mom, Joan, passed away peacefully in the early hours of the 28th of February 2024.

Mom was born in Springhill, Nova Scotia, on the 28th of June 1938. She married the love of her life, our Dad, Carman, in May 1955. The newlyweds travelled across the country to BC. They started their life in Quesnel. In November 1962, she and her family moved to Smithers, where they called home for the next 62 years. Mom faced many challenges over the years, but she and Dad overcame them together.

In addition to raising four children, Mom also babysat several children who often returned to visit her as they grew older. Her kitchen and home were always open for hockey billets or her children's friends and cousins. Everyone loved Mom's cooking and the friendship around her table. Mom also did the accounting for the family business for many years. Mom enjoyed curling and golfing and was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi. She was also passionate about learning her family roots and actively pursued the family's history through genealogy. Mom also loved quilting and created many beautiful quilts that cover the beds and walls of her family and are treasured by us all. Mom also did a lot of volunteer work throughout her life, one of which was Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to seniors even when she herself was a senior. She was also an active member of both the Smithers and Telkwa seniors groups.

Mom had a strong Christian faith in God and was an active member of the Mountain View Assembly for many years. Her faith helped her pass peacefully. She was blessed with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed them all. She always said her favourite was the one who she was with at the time.

Mom was predeceased by her mother and father, Guy and Lexie Canning, and her brother Shepherd Canning. She is survived by her loving husband, Carman; her two sisters, Lee Levelle and Gwen Gyger; her brother Jesse Canning; and her two sisters-in-law, Sonya Canning and Velma Canning. She is also survived by her four children: Pamela, Doug (Lasta), Stephen (Brenda), and Cindy (Clinton), as well as twelve grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren (four who were born in the last three months).

Dad and our family would like to thank the staff at Bulkley Lodge for the exceptional care and compassion that they gave Mom while she was a resident there. Mom was very much loved by her whole family and many friends. She will be deeply missed by all of us.

There will be a celebration of Mom's life on May 18th, 2024, at 1:30 pm at Mountain View Assembly in Smithers. In lieu of flowers, our family would appreciate donations to Smithers Bulkley Lodge.