Joan Marie Baker

Joan Marie Baker, aged 65, died peacefully in the early morning hours of August 14, 2016. She was at home in her beautiful and beloved yellow house, with her sons, Chris and Jeff, and her partner, David, at her side. Joan was born on May 17, 1951 in Westlock, Alberta, the daughter of Paul and Mary Renaud. She lived in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Calgary, and Australia before falling wildly in love with Nova Scotia and moving to her little bit of heaven on the road to Blomidon, near Wolfville, in 2004. 

Joan had a playful spirit and injected a sense of adventure into everything she did. Whether it was hosting Scrabble parties with friends, hiking or cycling trips, or planning end-of-year potlucks for her ESL students, fun and joy were high on her agenda. Joan was the best kind of teacher; one who is always learning about her students. Her deep interest in other people's life stories is what drove her to be so generous with both her heart and her time when teaching English to new Canadians. Joan had a passion for music. She studied piano at the University of Alberta as a young adult, and she went on to be a keen patron of jazz, folk and classical music. One of her greatest joys was playing pennywhistle in "Deaf Dog Barking" with dear friends and fellow music-lovers in the Valley. Another great joy was travel, and Joan had stories to tell from trips to the Netherlands, the UK, Italy, France, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Fiji, New Zealand, Belize, Mexico and South America. In her final years she travelled to Calgary, BC, Hawaii and Europe to spend time with family and friends. Joan had a fierce determination that showed up at such times as fighting for justice for teachers of ESL at Mount Royal College in Calgary by getting them accepted into the staff association, or training to cycle in a 90km race in the Italian Alps, or facing cancer treatments. Joan cultivated many beautiful friendships wherever she lived. This year, on her last birthday, she hosted a special party filled with dancing and music and delicious local food. She was triumphantly proud to have fought and lived to see sixty-five, and was honoured by the love her friends and family showed her.

Joan was a proud and connected mother, and a creative, happy, smitten grandmother. Her passionate love for her grandchildren was evidenced in the thousands of hours she spent planning capers with them, reading books to them, having phone and video chats, baking and playing board games with them - it went on and on. They each have a lifetime of happy memories of their "Grandma Joan". 

Joan is survived by her brothers Edmund (Robin) Renaud, Tom (Peggy) Renaud and Don (Mary) Renaud; sons Chris (Juleta) Severson-Baker, and Jeff Baker; grandchildren Emma and Nathan Severson-Baker, and Awen Choi; many dear nieces and nephews; and her partner David Steele. Her family would like to express their gratitude to the oncologists, Dr. Burgess, and all the chemotherapy nurses, VON nurses and home-care aides that gave Joan such dedicated, expert and kind care.

Celebrations of Life will take place in Delhaven, NS and Calgary, AB. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so are welcome to make a donation in Joan's name to a charity of their choice.