Obituary of Joan Brown

Brown, Joan, (nee Crow) April 25, 1934 - April 13, 2023. It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beautiful mother, Joan. She was the devoted wife to her husband Fred of 68 years, and loving Mum to her daughters Janice (Jim) and Michelle (Peter). She was also the caring Nana to her grandchildren Jenna, Laura, Annie, Grace, and Charlie.

Joan was born in Sunderland, England to Archibald and Mary Crow and is predeceased by her younger sister Mary. At the age of five, she was evacuated during the Second World War, traveling by train to the rural countryside with hundreds of other children. As a young girl Joan was a bright student who enjoyed her studies, loved reading, and spring visits to see her Aunt Joan in London. Joan met her husband Fred at a dance in Edinburgh, discovering they both worked at the same company in Sunderland. As a married couple they worked hard to establish themselves but also enjoyed many summers traveling throughout Europe on Fred’s motorbike with Joan in the sidecar.

Fred and Joan were an adventurous and ambitious couple who immigrated to Canada to make a better life for themselves and future generations. Joan found work on the second day in her new country, later working for the Ministry of Natural Resources at Queen’s Park. She continued to work while raising her children, enjoying a successful career but always putting family first.  Soon after settling in Toronto, Fred and Joan joined the Scarborough Scottish Country Dancing Association, where they met many great friends that would quickly become their extended family. Together the group enjoyed many celebrations, parties, and holidays. During her retirement, Joan spent her time volunteering for over 25 years at the Markham Stouffville Hospital as well as the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire. She also enjoyed her love of reading and continued traveling the world with her husband Fred including regular visits to the UK to see family. 

Joan spent much of her time with her grandchildren, which she loved and was very important to her. She provided great care, love and support to them, always happy to hear about their activities and offer support. Nana had a special place in her heart for all of her grandchildren and developed a loving, sweet relationship with each of them. Joan will be remembered as a kind hearted, intelligent, hardworking and beautiful soul by all who knew her. She was the absolute best Mum, great role model to her daughters, and provided constant love and support. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends, including her family in England.

A private ceremony will be held for immediate family on Thursday, April 20th, 2023 and a celebration of life is planned for next spring in England. The family would like to thank the staff at Markham Stouffville Hospital for their outstanding care and support.  If desired, donations in Joan's memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.  Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Dixon-Garland Funeral Home.

Funeral Livestream

To access the livestream, CLICK HERE and follow the prompt to enter your email address. You will immediately be sent a link in your email inbox (please check spam/trash folders if the link is not in your inbox). The link sent to your inbox will expire, so please sign up to access the livestream on the day of the service and keep the pre-ceremony page open until the stream begins. The service will be viewable after the livestream, as well. The livestream is set to start at 12:50 p.m., service begins at 1:00 p.m.