It is with great sadness that the family of Joan Gustin (Shelmerdine) announces her passing at Fairfield Park in Wallaceburg, Ontario on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at the age of 96.
Joan was born in Manchester, England on February 22, 1924 to Ethel Shelmerdine. In 1943, she would meet her husband-to-be, World War II veteran Willard “Bill” Gustin [d.1998]. They would wed in an old English church on May 16, 1945 right after the war had ended. Joan came to Canada in 1946 as a British War Bride and they would start their life together in Delhi, Ontario before laying roots in Wallaceburg, Ontario in 1952.
Together, they had ten children: Tom (Alma), Gary (Judy), Carol [Pratt – d.2017] (Dave), Will [d.2014] (Joan), Rob [d.1985], Don (Cheryl), Mike, Marty (Brenda), Virginia [Smith] (Arden), and Steve (Trish). Joan will be missed by her grandchildren Pauline, Tamara, Rick, Wil, Angela, Sherry [d 2014], Steven, Tony, Matthew, Nick, Taryn (Mike), Jamie (Carmen), Jeff (Cindy), Shawn, Annie (Ryan), Chris (Amanda) and Mandy (Steve) and great grandchildren Bryanna, Andrew, Eric, Amelia, Julia, Michael, Nathan, Landon, Josh, Gwen, Dustin, Drew, Austin, Mylz, Maddux, Emily, Kailyn, and a great-great grandchildren Olivia, Tally and coming in August – Alice Boose. Sadly missed by her Karaoke friends and her best friend and cohort of 74 years, Lois Lilley.
Joan had an infectious passion for life which would often show up in her gift of song or prose. She was known locally as karaoke fan favourite ‘Lady Joan’ and could often be found singing at the CBD on Thursdays and the Moose Lodge in Chatham on Saturdays. She loved a good game of Yahtzee and playing bingo. Joan would often capture some of her life’s greatest moments in poetry. When her husband, Bill, who had a long battle with Alzheimer’s, passed away, she had this to say:
I watched you suffer from a disease
For which no cure is known.
I held your hand, one last time –
And then God took you home.
I know you are at peace now;
No more suffering or pain.
Time will ease my sorrow,
Until we meet again.
…and somewhere, somehow, we know that these words were softly spoken to her today … “Welcome home, Joan”.
The family would like to thank Dr. Tom Perkin and the wonderful staff at Fairfield Park who loved and treated Mom like she was their own mother. Also, a special thanks to Mary Anne at K9 Klips who took special care of Joan’s feline companions throughout the years.
The family has entrusted funeral arrangements to HAYCOCK-CAVANAGH FUNERAL HOME. A small private family funeral will be held on Friday, May 8, 2020, with interment taking place at Riverview Cemetery. If desired, remembrances to PAWR Rescue, Chatham-Kent Hospice or a charity of your choice may be left in Joan’s honour.
