Joseph (Joe) Edward Slater died peacefully while surrounded by family and friends on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead. Joe has been struggling with a significant decline brought on by progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) over the past several years. He chose to end his life, while he was still in control, with the aid of MAiD provisions and in the company and support of his family.
Joe grew up in Kamloops, B.C. before joining the military, first attending Royal Roads and then the Royal Military College. Joe served in Trenton, Ontario and Gypsumville, Manitoba before joining the federal government in 1967. Joe spent the next 32 years working for Environment Canada including an assignment with the International Maritime Organisation in London, U.K. before retiring in 1999.
Upon retirement, Joe moved to a country home at Crow Lake, Ontario with his wife Sandi. Sandi died in 2003 after 38 years of marriage. Joe stayed at Crow Lake until 2011 after which he moved to Victoria, B.C. and married Noreen Greig.
Joe is survived by his wife Noreen, his son Jeff and daughter Sheryl along with their partners Marissa and Andrew and Joe’s sister Dorothy.
Joe was passionate about his work and his family. He was involved in many volunteer roles with several community organizations. Joe made significant contributions in the Crow Lake community in his 10 years there. He was instrumental in the Meisel Woods Conservation Area being developed around a nearby lake and the trail through Meisel Woods was named in remembrance of Sandi Slater after her death. Some of Joe’s ashes will be distributed along this trail.
The family would like to thank the staff at The Lodge in making the past months a supportive transition to the end. Brain tissue will be donated to the Mayo Clinic to aid in continued research into PSP and its onset and treatment.
A Memorial Service will take place on Tuesday, November 19 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive.
In lieu of flowers, donations are gratefully accepted at the Heart and Stroke Foundation – HeartandStroke.ca, CurePSP.org or the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation – rvca.ca (directed to support the Sandi Slater Memorial Trail).
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
24 Responses
Sheryl, Jeff and Noreen.
Our sincerest condolences on the peaceful passing of your father and husband. Joe and I first met at Royal Roads in 1959 and our intersecting lives crossed many times over the years. Comments about his and Sandi’s height and my lack thereof continued even after her too early departure. Our families camped together and we shared time playing bridge with mutual friends over the years.
Our thoughts are with you all at this difficult time.
though we only briefly were acquainted with Joe when he stayed with us in January 2014 we really enjoyed his company and conversation.We appreciated his open mindedness and awareness and tolerance for other cultures. He always wanted to know what was going on in the world.He was a gentleman taken away from us by a bizarre condition for which there is no cure at present.We hope that Joe’s donation may help in research into the condition.We will always remember Joe sitting on our veranda repeatedly throwing a tennis ball for one of our Springer spaniels to retrieve.
gavin greig
Noreen, my deepest sympathy in your loss of Joe. Enjoyed many good times in Sharbot Lake and at his beautiful home on Crow Lake. The bridge group always liked to go to Joe’s and be treated to his desserts. I still have his recipe for strawberry rhubarb coffee cake. To Andrew and Sheryl, my condolences on the loss of your Dad. He was a very special man.
I will always remember Joe from our days at Environment Canada. He was a great guy and we had many chats together. My sincere condolences to the Slater family….as I know, he will be missed…:Darwin
My condolences to the Slater family.
My heart aches. I always enjoyed my Wednesday afternoons at Broadmead Lodge when I would spend s bit of time with Joe, Noreen and their scruffy little black dog. I am pleased that Joe’s son and daughter were able to travel from far away (Qatar and Hong Kong) to be with Joe during his final hours.
God bless you all.
Farewell mate; we will remember those halcyon days.
Short Final
by Russ Nichol
Slow Descent
the low dark clouds above me now
sky ahead clear, at last, and the stars are out.
What remains of the light in the west
confirms the grass field straight ahead.
Cool in the cabin.
instruments fuzzy and barely readable,
but unnecessary.
The feel and sound of the old machine is familiar and reassuring
Hanger light on
Odd-not expecting anyone to meet me.
No traffic, no cross wind to counter,
the dark windsock
limp in the still air.
Approach advisory unnecessary.
Over the threshold,
engine low idle,
darkness, except for the light in the hanger
and the soft glow over the nose.
The wheels touch as the old craft settles to the earth
and with the last of the momentum
rolls to a stop at the hanger.
Radio off.
switches off.
engine off.
Home.
Andrew and Sheryl. Our thoughts are with you during this sad and difficult time for you and your family. You have our deepest sympathy. Just know that we are here for you. All our love. Cally & Guy x
Our warmest, best thoughts are with you all. Joe led a very good life and left a wonderful legacy in his family.
Condolences to the Slater family. We cannot give you our shoulders to lean on or give you handkerchiefs when you need them in Canada. But our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time of sorrow and grief from Hong Kong.
Guy and Holly