Joan Kay Murray

The Blom family grew up in Big Falls MN until 1938 when the family moved to Carp, then Baudette Minnesota.

In 1956 she was united in marriage to Theodore “Pat” Murray at First Lutheran church in Baudette Minnesota and they had three daughters together during their 25 year union.

Joan & Pat lived in many Northern Ontario/Manitoba communities, namely Pinewood Ontario where she helped Adele and George (Nanny and Grandad) Murray with Murray’s Grill, Headingley, Manitoba, Camp Robinson Ontario, Rainy River Ontario and finally settling in Fort Frances Ontario where Joan was a loans officer for the Fort Frances Credit Union until she retired in 1988 where she spent the next 8 years with her partner William (Bill) Cameron.

Joan lived independently in her house and apartment at Shevlin Towers until Feb 2017 where she then moved into long term care, first in Rainycrest then to Riverside Health Care in Rainy River. She enjoyed her time in Rainy River and met very sweet friends, Annie, Millie, Wilma and Lenora. We are so very grateful to all the Doctors, Nurses and Hospital staff that went above and beyond in their care to make sure our mom was comfortable and smoothly transitioned to her new home.

Joan loved the outdoors, fished and hunted with Pat and her sisters and brothers in laws. She also loved to cook for family reunions and we all looked forward to spending those days, in a big tent to keep out those mosquitoes that always seemed to be in abundance in July and August! She was also an avid knitter and made special sweaters for all of her grandchildren.

Joan is survived by her daughters Sandra (Noris) Piccinato of Fort Frances, ON., Belinda (Ian) Chin Pang of Mississauga, ON., and Tricia (Dave) Escuyos of Lacombe, AB; five grandchildren Gillian (her favorite and only granddaughter).,Tyson Piccinato of Fort Frances, ON., Tyler Chin Pang of Mississauga, ON., Cody Escuyos of Toronto, ON., Riley Escuyos of Lacombe, AB., maternal nieces Deborah Blom & Sherri Smart. She had an unwavering love of family that embraced these, and great niece and nephews/great nephews on the Blom and Murray side. We especially would like to thank Auntie Patsy and Uncle Mel Borgen and Vaughn and Melanie Murray who spent so many beautiful moments with mom in her final months.

Joan was predeceased by her parents Carl and Mildred Blom (nee Ekeberg), brother Alfred Blom, and sisters Gail Mayerchuk and Sandra Jill and brother-in-law Mike Byrnes.

Cremation has taken place with a private family gathering in July 2018.

In memoriam donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation Northwestern Ontario Branch, 104-979 Alloy Drive, Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7B 5Z8.