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
If Joe was still with us I know he would appreciate my taking a few minutes to acknowledge all of you who have sent us their condolences, love and memories. Some of you I have never met but Joe always enjoyed telling me about happy times he shared with Sandi and many of you. Sheryl and Jeff’s friends who wrote are to be thanked, too
Joe and I met in 1967 following my emigrating to Winnipeg from the UK – we were neighbours. Sandi became one of my best friends over a number of years and Joe tried to teach me and my late husband how to play bridge!
Joe and I had ten very happy years together, never to be forgotten. Thank you all for your thoughts. Knowing you cared is helping me handle my grief. Joe was a wonderful man whom Sophie and I dearly loved
Dear Jeff and Sheryl,
I’ve known your dad Since the early 60’s and I remember you kids as teenagers in Winnipeg, I think. I believe I only met you once as adults….maybe At the Lake?
Joe phoned me maybe three or four months ago and let me know his plans, but I am grateful to have been sent the date of his departure as I emailed him the day before and had a reply from him. Now I’m also grateful to Len Gibson for seeing that I have these messages.
Your parents and I were very good friends. I, like so many, was shattered when Sandi died. i enjoyed many good times with them in London and at the lake, for the several years I lived in Ontario. Joe and I both ended up back in BC.
Over the years , we talked lots about ‘Jeff and Sheryl‘. So I know way more about you than you know about me,
I send my deepest sympathy, and though I don’t know Noreen, perhaps you would convey my condolences to her for me.
With gratitude that your parents were good friends to me.
Margaret Dillon gIbson
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Sending our sincere condolences to Jeff, Marissa, Sheryl, Andrew and Noreen.
We enjoyed over twenty years playing bridge with and enjoying the company of Sandi and Joe. They were wonderful, generous hosts, in Ottawa, London England and Crow Lake.
We have such fond memories of dear friends who are truly missed.
Dear Cheryl and all the family. WE are so sorry for your loss. My memories of you and the family go way back to Antigua. We all had a great week , unplanned but just happened,and it was great. Again I am so sorry for your loss. Pat Loyst a classmate of Sandies