PREECE, Joan N. (nee Appleby)
On Sunday, January 22nd, 2012, Joan passed away peacefully at the Edson Nursing Home. She was 94 years old.
Joan is survived by her daughter Maureen Preece of Edson, Alberta and her son Edwin and wife Shirley of Edson, Alberta and grandson Kevin (Sue) Preece and great-grandson Danyal and Courtney and baby Malyssa of Canmore, Alberta and granddaughters Cheryl (Cory) Whitesell of Calgary, Alberta and Donna Preece of Edmonton, Alberta. She is also survived by her sister Shirley Hinchey of Edson, Alberta as well as many nieces and nephews.
Joan was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Ivor, in 1999, her father and mother, her brother Charlie and her sister Dorothy (Jessie) Mericer and Maureen Williams.
Joan was born in Paynton, Saskatchewan on May 3, 1917. She was the middle child of James and Fanny Appleby. After a few years, the family moved to Sorrento, B.C. for a period of nearly five years. In 1924, they moved to Edson and settled on a homestead one mile north of town on the North Road. Joan travelled to England with her family when she was in her teens. They spent several years there with relatives. She worked at the Singer Sewing Machine Factory. In 1940, Joan with her family returned to Edson. Ivor Preece was a friend of her brother’s who she married in 1941. Their family was completed with a daughter Maureen and a son Edwin. They moved around to several places in the Edson area and then in 1957, bought the old Rev. Canon Mathew’s place. Joan loved her log home where she resided until 2002, when she moved into the Parkland Lodge and then with failing health moved into the Nursing Home in the fall of 2004. Joan was employed by the St. John’s Hospital as the seamstress for some 35 years. She had a close relationship with all the Sisters of Service. She retired in the mid 1980’s, but continued to mend clothes for the Nursing Home. Over the years she also sewed for many ladies in the community. Joan was a member of the Edson Art Club. She loved to pass the time painting scenic oil pictures. She loved being outside working in her garden.
“She set a worthy example and found pleasure in the work of her hands; she put her heart into her work”.
The Funeral Service for Joan will be held at the Edson Baptist Church on March 10th, 2012 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Terry Stauffer officiating. The interment will follow in the Glenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers are Bob Hinchey, Bob Shepherd, Edwin Trydal, Brent Shepherd, Allen Hinchey and Dale Hemmerling. Friends and relatives so wishing may make memorial contributions to the Edson Nursing Home, 4716-5th Avenue, Edson, Alberta, T7E 1S8.
EDSON FUNERAL HOME LTD., 780-723-3575, entrusted with all arrangements.
To send condolences on line, please visit our website at www.edsonfuneralhome.com.
The Foothills Memorial Chapel
“Serving West Central Alberta for more than 62 years”