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
I’m so sorry to hear of Joan’s passing. My heart goes out to Gordon, the children, and the grandchildren. I know Joan was devoted to her family even as she pursued an outstanding career in international nursing. She touched many, many lives, as a mother, wife, nurse, teacher, and as a person. She will be missed.
Please accept my deepest condolences for your family’s loss. I worked with Joan in the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria for several years. The discipline of Nursing has lost an incredible nurse, instructor, knowledge holder, advocate and an overall beautiful woman.
My thoughts are with you.
Dear Uncle Gordon, Bruce, Andrew and the entire family,
We are truly saddened by the loss of Joan. As we read the above, we are reminded of her many accomplishments, both professional and personal. She will be missed by all who knew her. We are thinking of you. Our sincerest sympathies from the entire Wylie-Couves family. – Chris, Leanne, Caitlin
I did not know Joan, but after reading about her remarkable life, I felt I needed to write this message to her family. What an incredible contribution she made to our world! I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing Joan’s inspiring story.
Dear Gordon and Family,
Our deepest condolences.
With love from,
Ruth and Morten
Dear Gordon,
With our sympathy. We remember Joan best walking quickly around the neighbourhood, always with a smile for everyone. As well I enjoyed our chats about nursing research and playing the occasional game of golf together.
Marilyn and Nic
I am so sorry for your loss.
Gord we share your sadness. Joan was away too young for this to happen. We remember clearly her and you living here in Gordon Point Estates, and all the parties (work and social) we shared together. And we appreciate your generosity in “lending” us your apartment in Montpelier while you were at home with Joan. We missed seeing Joan on her daily walks, and always her bubbly personality. You were lucky to meet up with her in St Lucia – and vice versa! Our thoughts are with you. Norm & Joan Smyth
Dear Gordon and Family,
My deepest sympathy to the bereaved family. I thank Joan for the memories, she’s so beautiful inside and out.
Regards,
Vilma
Dear Gordon and family. We are saddened to hear that Joan has passed away in this holiday season. We hope you will find strength in your families and friends to cope in the days ahead at this difficult time. Our sincere sympathy to you all. Gordon Point Estates Residents’ Association friends and neighbours.