Catherine Joan Mckinnon

Gorge Road Hospital, Victoria BC, at ninety years of age.

Born Catherine Joan Millen in Winnipeg Manitoba on April 21,1931,

she was the youngest of five siblings. Like her sister and brothers Joan

was athletic in her younger days - she played baseball and volleyball,

enjoyed speed skating in the winter, and loved to swim in Lake Winnipeg in the summer, making daily trips to the beach from “Kittscott” - the beloved family cottage.

She also loved going to the movies, often sitting with her friends in the back two rows of Winnipeg’s Valour Theatre on Friday nights. In fact, one of her first jobs was working as an usher at the movie theatre.

Joan also loved to sing, and had a beautiful voice. Growing up in an

Irish-Catholic family with a mother who taught piano Joan found comfort and joy in all kinds of music, from church hymns to “Danny Boy” - a song

that would often bring tears to her eyes. She was even a founding member of The Winnipeg Girls Choir. Joan sang in many choirs over the years, and was sometimes asked to sing at both weddings and funerals. Her love of music sustained her throughout her life, and although no longer in the choir she sang at church during Sunday services well into her eighties, and participated in the singalongs at The Gorge Road Hospital whenever she could.

Like her Mother, and sister before her, Joan attended high school

at St. Mary’s Academy & College in Winnipeg, where she earned

her diploma in 1949.

Joan soon found work as a secretary, and got a job with Trans

Canada Airlines (later known as Air Canada). When offered a transfer

to the west coast Joan jumped at the opportunity, and packed her bags

for Vancouver in the early 1950’s.

While boarding with family friends who had also moved to Vancouver Joan was invited to a neighbourhood party where she met her future husband Allan McKinnon, who had also moved west from Manitoba.

They married in the summer of 1955, and spent their honeymoon

at Lake Winnipeg before moving to Abbotsford B.C., where, after a short

time, they bought a small house on Lobban Road, in a neighbourhood

Joan would live in for the next fifty years.

Their only child, Allan Paul, was born in 1957.

Although unusual for the time Joan was a working mother, finding jobs with school districts, courts, police stations, and the Catholic church.

She finally retired in the mid 1990’s.

Joan was a life long Catholic, and her faith was an important to her throughout her life. She was a active member of the church from her

secretarial work to her choir practise, and she made many friends there.

One of her favourite jobs was working as a secretary for the monks

of Westminster Abby in Mission.

Joan’s life in Abbotsford was filled with friends and family. She was

an avid bowler, and brought home many trophies. She and Al went to many parties, dinners, and dances over the years. And summertime often meant a trip to Penticton to enjoy the warm weather and lake swimming.

Over the years Joan managed to stay in touch with many, many old

friends, often through her annual Christmas letters, which she’d write out by hand, despite her formidable skills at the typewriter.

After over fifty years in Abbotsford Joan moved to Victoria in 2008 to

be with her son Paul and her Granddaughter Sarah. She enjoyed living

in Victoria, and taking it easy. Tired of cooking she often liked to go out to eat, or order in meals from favourite restaurants. She was an avid reader,

and still liked to go out to the movies now and again. And although she

missed her many Abbotsford friends she made a few new ones while

she lived here.

Due to health concerns Joan moved to the Arbutus wing of The Gorge Road Hospital Care facility in early 2019 where she enjoyed their excellent music programmes, and continued to make friends.

Joan celebrated her ninetieth birthday with her son and granddaughter,

being able to go outside together for the first time since the pandemic lockdown. She had a great time singing and laughing under the shade of the tall trees. Shortly after, however, Joan’s health took a sudden decline,

and, with Paul, Sarah, and Sarah’s Mother Kelly at her bedside she passed away on the morning of June the third.

Joan is survived by her son Paul, her Granddaughter Sarah, and

many nieces and nephews.

Joan’s family would like to thank all the hard working care givers at

The Gorge Road Hospital who did such a wonderful job looking after

Mom in her final years. Thank you so much.

Thanks also to The First Memorial Services of Victoria for all their help.