With profound sadness, I announce the passing of my wife, JOANNE WRIGHT ROLLINS (née Kavanagh), on November 18, 2025, in Kelowna, BC, at the age of 79, from complications of surgery. Born in Montreal in 1946 to Edmond Francis Kavanagh and Marjorie Jean Wright, Joanne is survived by her husband, Donald Ross Rollins. We would have celebrated our 56th anniversary this Christmas Eve.
Also left to grieve are our daughter, Lisa Jean Rollins and her husband Sparky Bleackley of Malahat, BC; our granddaughter Brittany Michelle Rollins and her son, our great-grandson Trey David Rollins, of West Kelowna, BC; sister Jane Kavanagh Cooper and her husband, Tom Cooper, of Cornwall, ON; Joanne was predeceased by her parents, and our son, David Andrew Rollins.
Joanne succeeded at being what she had always wanted to be: wife, mother and homemaker. She was last employed in Montreal at Gillette 55 years ago, but quit work as soon as she knew she was joyfully pregnant with our son, David. Losing David when he was 18 was devastating.
Joanne was not a fan of the cold: in retirement, we were fortunate to spend parts of every winter, often the full 6 months from October to April, in our beloved Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico, where we have many friends who will miss her.
Honouring Joanne’s wishes, our “Johnny” has been cremated and there will be no funeral service.
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