Joan A (Day) Hisey

Joan was born in Devon (now Fredericton), New Brunswick and at the young age of 17 demonstrated her love of travel and sense of adventure by packing up her bags and moving to Ontario. She found employment as a ticket agent for Trans Canada Airlines (now Air Canada) and it was through this employment that she met her future husband Ken Hisey. He was dating one of her roommates at the time and according to him the first time Joan answered the phone he was smitten. They were married from 1949 – 1977 and during their 28 years together shared many happy and exciting times together. 

As was the norm for her time, Joan was a stay at home mom - albeit a non- traditional one - as her passions most definitely did not include cooking or cleaning! She and Ken were wonderful hosts and always very supportive of their daughters’ interests. She had a kind and generous spirit and was truly a class act.

Joan was a lover of art, music, history, theatre and travel.  She painted and produced lithographs, but particularly loved to work in clay and had Ken install a kiln in the garage at home and set up a potter’s wheel at the cottage. She audited art history university classes in the evening, leaving Ken in charge of the girls, regularly attended live theatre productions, visited art galleries and could jitterbug like no one else.  

Both she and Ken shared a love for travel and every year she would take on the daunting task of coordinating a family trip. England, France, Italy, Germany, Florida and Mexico were just some of the places visited. Extensive research was completed in advance and time away always included a focus on history for her daughters and time spent mingling with the people living in these foreign lands.

She was very dearly loved and will be fondly remembered by her two daughters Heather Hisey (Paul Jarvis) of Guelph, Ontario and Sue (Jay) Manery of Lethbridge, Alberta. Her grandchildren Anne Hisey (Ashlin) Snowdon and Adam Hisey Manery will treasure the special memories they have of their Grandma Joan. She will also be remembered with affection by Heather's stepchildren, Evan and Hilary Jarvis (James Nicholson) and their son Everett.  

She is survived by her sister, Bonnie Irvine of Trenton, Ontario, Annelies Innerkofler of Amlach, Austria who was like a daughter to her, many extended family members and good friends. She was predeceased by her mother and stepfather, Anne and Warren Urquhart, her brother, Richard Day, and by her former husband Kenneth Clarke Hisey.

The family is most appreciative to all who supported Mom in a kind and respectful manner during her last six years in Lethbridge. Our heartfelt thanks to Wendy James and BJ Milman-Fritz, with both of whom Mom shared a special bond.

A tribute to Joan will be held in Lethbridge on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at the Galt Museum at 5:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations to support arthritis research.

beatarthritis.ca

Arthritis Research Foundation

1001-522 University Ave.
Toronto, ON CANADA M5G 1W7

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