Joan Armstrong Massey

Joan Armstrong Milligan Massey

August 2,1930 - January 31, 2024

Joan was born in 1930 in Toronto to musicians Harry and Connie Milligan.

She grew up in Parkdale and attended Queen Victoria Public School and Parkdale Collegiate Institute. She married Gordon Ferrier Massey on June 16, 1950. Joan’s passion in school and throughout her life was her family and swimming.

In her early working years Joan had a variety of jobs working for Prudential, at the Old Spice factory and as a seamstress with the Canadian Opera company. Then Joan’s work career was with the federal government first in old Age Security and then Canada Pension. When she retired and moved up to Kincardine to be with family, she needed some time to adjust. She found great pleasure swimming again and made many special friends. Joan had many special neighbours where she lived. They became her community especially through Covid times. She very much enjoyed her conversations with her friends in her building. They always looked out for her coming in for little visits and chats and bringing her so many treats.

When she could Joan enjoyed walking the boardwalk and walking Point Clark beaches with her grandsons. She enjoyed sharing dinosaurs and race cars with her great-grandchildren. They never left a visit with GiGi without seeing her funny monkey face!

Joan passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 31,2024, at Chesley Hospital. She is survived by her loving daughters Laura and Linda (Paul), grandsons Matthew (Roberta), Eric (Renee), Daniel (Tori), granddaughter Kate, great-grandchildren Joshua, Alexandra, Declan and Callum and also by her sister-in-law Evelyn Milligan, nieces Adele (Arunus), Sandra, nephew Grant David (Laurin), grand-nephews Kyle, Devin, Sean, Rhys, Lukas (Amy) and grand-niece Katrina (Sean) as well as great-grand-nieces and nephews.

Joan was predeceased by her parents Harry and Consuelo Milligan, brother Henry Grant, sister Shirley Milligan and loving son-in-law Donald MacIntyre.

A special thank you to our close friends who made mom part of their family and a special thank you to moms PSWs Megan and Katie who helped care for mom over the last six months so that she could continue to live in her apartment that she loved. Also, a special thank you to Dr Gurbin, Elyse and Kelsey for always taking the time to see her when needed.

A private family celebration will take place on Joan’s birthdate.

Donations can be made to Huron Shores Hospice in Joan’s memory.