Gordon, Bruce, and Andrew are sad to announce the death of wife and mother Joan Mary MacNeil on December 17, 2018. Joan was born to Simon Bogstad and Katherine (Crawford) in Edmonton. She was raised on a farm near Stony Plain and studied at University of Alberta (BSc – Nursing). After a couple of years nursing in Canada, she went as a volunteer with the Canadian Medical Association to St. Lucia. There she met Gordon and they married, in Castries, in 1974. In 1978, Joan relocated from Ottawa to Senegal, where she worked on various assignments and in 1981, she returned to Canada to complete a Masters degree (Health Sciences) at McMaster University.
Joan then worked for the Canadian Nurses Association in Ottawa as International Affairs Manager and in 1988, moved again to Africa with Gordon, this time in Cote d’Ivoire. There she managed an HIV-AIDS care and management project for the International Council of Nurses. This became the foundation for her next academic challenge which was a PhD in Nursing at Wayne State University (Detroit). For the next decade, Joan continued with her work on health care policy in the United States, Asia, and elsewhere.
In 2003, she joined the World Bank as Senior HIV-AIDS Specialist. In late 2005, Joan and Gordon returned finally to Canada, settling in Victoria, where Joan joined the faculty of nursing at University of Victoria until she retired in 2013. Sadly, fairly soon after her retirement, Joan’s illness became evident, which soon robbed her from fully enjoying the fruits of her many years of accomplishment and a fulfilling retirement. For the last year and a half of her remarkable life, Joan was resident at Glengarry Hospital in Victoria where she received outstanding care after it became impossible to adequately care for her at home.
Joan leaves behind, besides her heartbroken immediate family, grandchildren Matthew, Alexia, Abigail, Shane, Ella, and Athea, sisters Margrete and Ruth, daughters-in-law Leeann MacNeil and Shenen MacNeil, brother-in-law Colin MacNeil, sisters-in-law Phyllis Nicholson and Donna Haynal, cousins, nieces and nephews, and countless friends in many countries.
There will be a Memorial Service in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. A reception will follow.
Tributes, if desired, may be made to the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation, 1454 Hillside Avenue, Victoria, BC V8T 2B7.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
17 Responses
My sincere condolences to the MacNeil family on the passing of Mrs MacNeil. She was truly one of the most kind hearted people I have ever met. She had a positive impact on all who knew her and we have definitely lost a gem. I pray that you find comfort in your cherished memories and that you are strengthened during this difficult period.
It was my privilege to know Joan MacNeil for more than 40 years, dating back to my first assignment with the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa, as a colleague of Gordon. When we first met, Joan was busy raising her young family in Ottawa, prior to moving with Gordon, Bruce, and Andrew to West Africa. Over the next four decades, as our careers took us to different continents, we may not have seen each other often. Yet every time we met, it was very easy to catch up with each other’s news, whether we were meeting in Africa, Asia, or back in Canada. Happily, when I moved to Victoria in November 2015, it was easy to see Joan and Gordon regularly, and we have enjoyed many happy moments together since then.
Joan’s love for life, her family, and her career demonstrated a multi-talented and accomplished woman, who was immensely proud of her family. She treasured the times that her grandchildren visited her on Vancouver Island, as much as the times that she saw them in Washington DC and Edmonton. In recent months, it was difficult for Joan to express what she wanted to say about her family, but a twinkle in her eye indicated that she knew when we were talking about her grandchildren.
A wife to Gordon of 44 years, Joan was a faithful and supportive spouse, whose professional career was as impressive as Gordon’s. Joan showed a knack for designing her Gordon Point home and a love for joining Gordon in the kitchen. Somehow, their professional careers allowed them both to continue their post-graduate studies, while ensuring that Bruce and Andrew completed their own schooling in a timely fashion.
Joan was a gracious and generous host, who loved to share with her guests her immense knowledge, acquired with Gordon over years in international development. She somehow managed to maintain an international career that allowed Gordon to pursue his career, while she developed and implemented innovative programs and published important work about AIDS, which she studied in Africa and Asia. All the time, she remained modest and determined to share her knowledge with PhD students at the University of Victoria, where she finished her storied career. If only she could have enjoyed a well- deserved retirement with her beloved “Bear”.
I know I speak on behalf of former IDRC colleagues: How lucky we have all been to know and love Joan! Our sincere condolences to Gordon and family.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I worked with Joan at the UVic School of Nursing for many years. One day I was chatting with Joan and she was telling me that she was getting ready to meet up with her husband somewhere abroad, I can’t remember. I said you are quite excited and she said, “I am, we are so madly in love.” She was a wonderful person, a real hard worker and will be greatly missed.
Dear Gordon, Bruce & Andrew
Please know how dearly regarded Joan was to us. We first met through the Bakers, when Gordon was travelling and Joan was building your Gordon Point home. Joan was working but we enjoyed golf together occassionally, We met when taking our walks and predinner drinks with the Bakers.
Once yourbeautiful home was completed, we enjoyed many a dinner and parties at your home. Joan approached all she did with confidence and enthusiasm. As written she had an outstanding career and she touched the lives of many….she loved her family dearly. We will rememberalso the courage and integrety with which she approached her illness. Our deepest sympathy to you and your family Gordon. Ron & Sharon
Dear Gordon,
We are indeed saddened to know the passing of our dear Joan. We are very sorry for your loss!
May she rest in peace.
Our deepest sympathy and condolences to you and the rest of your family. Please take care of yourselves!
Sincerely,
Melba
Dear Gordon and family,
Our family expresses our deep sympathy for your loss.
Joan is a very special person and I am glad that I was able to meet and know her. She is now at peace.
Sincerely,
Leny
My deepest sympathy to you all on the death of Joan. She was a wonderful colleague at UVic and will be missed by all who knew her. May your treasured memories be helpful as you think of her at this very sad time.
Sincerely, Rosalie Starzomski