It is with heavy hearts that we share the peaceful, gentle passing of our mother Joan Alkerton on Wednesday, March 19, in her 83rd year at St. Joseph’s Villa Dundas, surrounded by the love of her family until she took her last breath.
Mom is now free from her battle with Alzheimer’s disease and she is reunited with her love, our Dad, Mike Alkerton who left us 6 months ago. She leaves behind her children Barb (Martin), Lisa (Terry), grandchildren Rebecca (Richard), Chris (Matt), siblings Barb, Susan, Janice (Michael), Jim (Rhonda), and many extended family and friends.
People will remember Joan from her years of service at Toronto Dominion Bank in Fonthill and then TD Canada Trust Bank in Dundas. Following mom’s retirement from the bank, she spent 20 years volunteering her time at St. Joseph’s Villa Dundas, working with the people that later cared for her as a resident over the past 19 months while living in Birch Trail.
Joan gave beautiful handmade gifts to so many family & friends from the love she poured into quilting and sewing for years. Mom was a member of the Ancaster quilt guild. We are gratefully hugged in bed every night wrapped in the quilts she made us with love. When mom wasn’t quilting or sewing she was reading novels, baking, or doing preserves with Mike. In their earlier years Joan and Mike were travelling to their favourite destinations having adventures that made unforgettable memories.
Our mother was a beautiful pianist since she was a young girl where she took piano lessons to grade 10 and she quietly played for many years. For a short period of time she didn’t have a piano until Mike surprised her with one, she was delighted!
Mom received the most compassionate loving care from the staff in Birch Trail. We are forever grateful for her nurses Devi & Diane, PSW’s & other associates Shirley, Mike, Elaine, Ida, Amanda, Noreen, Bridgette, Liam, Sabrina, Molly, Daniella and others since she moved there in August 2023. The people at Birch Trail are like family to us and we can’t thank them enough for the care our mom received.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of mom’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Joseph’s Villa Foundation, Margaret’s Place or Alzheimer’s Society of Canada.
I’m so very sorry to hear of Joan’s passing and send my condolences to Barb, Lisa and families. I worked with Joan at the TD Bank in Dundas for many years and she was always well liked by both staff and customers alike. She was also a good crafts person and her candlesticks come out every Christmas to adorn my table. I have missed seeing her and Mike walking in the Driving Park but now I’m sure they are together once again.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all,
May she rest in peace with Mike.
Shirley and Peter Arnold
Barb,Lisa & entire family..Very sorry to learn of Joan’s passing. Also being a TD retiree I had the privilege of chatting with Joan at many of the retiree’s lunches & sometimes with Barb attending whom I had many years ago worked with at Jackson Square. She was a lovely lady with many talents & well liked. May the wonderful memories of her give you strength. May she rest in peace alongside Mike. Sincerely Joyce.
Barb and families,
May your many precious memories help you along during this difficult path.
Thinking of you.
Liz Hoyle
A beautiful tribute to your Mom, she was well loved ✨💗
What a wonderful tribute to your Mom! She was a huge part of my life especially back when I spent my summers at 22 Park St! A truly amazing woman with the best laugh ever. Love to all ❤️❤️❤️
Barb & Lisa, so very sorry to hear of Joan’s passing. I worked with your mother at TD University Plaza only for a short time, yet she left a lasting positive impression on me. I worked with Joan briefly covering a maternity leave. I was still learning at TD, Joan took me under her wing in my early years. Her kindness and patience was something to be admired. I was often fond of how she had many talents, such as her sewing and domestic attributes. We hugged after seeing each other after many years later at the Dundas Branch. She returned the next week and gifted me one of her hand made sewn bowls I still have today. Her obituary is a true beautiful tribute to an Elegant, Classy lady, such as Joan. A privilege to have known you.
Silvana, TD
I grew up in the Bennett family household, Janice was my friend as a teen, later boarded at Barb’s home in Oakville and then ended up living across the road from Mike and Joan on Pleasant Ave. Remember you girls and your mom from the family home when I was a kid. My previous husband (Doug Edge) and I enjoyed their excitement at Christmas when they would have us and our children(Sara, Kelly and Rachael Edge) over at Christmas with big packages of candy and special decorations each for our tree. I would love to attend her celebration of life with your family if you can let me know when that is. A beautiful lady and a pretty special couple. Cindy Hunt/Edge/Walsh
i knew both. joan from TD and mike just from being around dundas. used to bump into them occasionally at the driving park.
sorry to hear of joan’s passing. she was always very pleasant.
May cherished memories bring the family comfort at this difficult time. We are sorry for the loss of your mom and grandmother.
Our sincerest condolences to the family. Joan was a wonderful, funny, kind woman and raised 2 beautiful daughters to be the same. We will miss you Joanie, Rest in Peace.
Barb, Lisa and all the family, Our deepest Condolences to all of you. We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. Thinking of all of you during this difficult time with deepest sympathy.