Joan Yerema passed away peacefully at her home in Sunderland surrounded by family on August 7th, 2025, in her 92nd year of life.

Joan (Mom) will be remembered for so many different reasons by all those who knew and loved her. Born in Sudbury in 1932 to parents Ernie Kedey and Dorothy Davis, Joan was an eldest sister to her two her siblings (Betty and Hugh), a cousin to many in the Ottawa Valley, a loving and caring wife to her late husband Bill Yerema, a mother of four (Susan, Jay, Shane and Richard), an adored mother-in-law, a grandmother (aka Mamere) to twelve, a great-grandmother of ten, and a great friend to many near and far.

As perfectly described by her niece “Aunt Joan amazed me. She amazed me with her ability to be so poised and classy and sophisticated yet still send out her cheeky ‘don’t mess me vibes’ so effectively. She was a super strong woman who fit perfectly in a wee elegant frame.”

Joan was many things to so many people throughout her full life, an extraordinary host together with Bill at the family home (reunions, pool openings, pig-roasts, and parties ), a skilled nurse and in-house doctor to many, creative gardener, talented and tireless interior designer, crossword professional, gifted artist (providing a legacy of work for generations), great dance partner, athletic (baseball, skating, swimming, basketball, yes, it’s true), reluctant cook but creative chef, martini connoisseur, home and furniture restorer, part-time Aruban, debater, reader, a great conversationalist (but a woman of few words on the phone), historian, music lover, fashion aficionado (clothes, scarves, jewellery, purses, shoes and more shoes), and absolutely the family arbiter in all matters big and small.

Joan was truly an eternal optimist, loved to dress for the day ahead, enjoy a quiet morning coffee with the newspaper and a game of Sudoku, afternoon adventures, wrapping up the day with a dry martini and a perfectly set table for a beautiful homemade dinner followed by an evening of conversation and laughter with family and friends.

Joan (Mom, Mamere) you made us all feel special, welcome and loved! You will be dearly missed by all of us who knew and loved you, we take comfort knowing the adventures continue with all those who have been patiently awaiting your arrival. We can see you and Dad dancing together again.

A Celebration of Life service for Joan Yerema will be held at St. Andrew’s United Church in Sunderland on October 4, 2025, at 2pm. All are welcome to join Joan’s family to honour her legacy and share memories. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial donation to the St. Andrew’s United Church in Sunderland, a charity of choice or an unsolicited act of kindness toward another. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Thorne Funeral Home, so memories, photos and condolences may also be shared at www.thornefuneralhome.ca

MORE DETAILS ABOUT JOAN’S LIFE:

Joan was born on December 10th, 1932, and raised in the home her father built on Wembley Drive in Sudbury, Ontario. She was the oldest of the three children born to Ernest (Ernie) and Dorothy (Davis) Kedey. Joan’s childhood was affected by the Great Depression, WWII, overcoming the challenges of polio, and the loss of her beloved mother at just 11 years old. Her early life experiences nurtured a deep sense of compassion, unwavering resilience, quiet courage, and steadfast determination that helped shape the woman she was to become.

Raised by her devoted single father, who worked for the Department of Lands and Forests. During the summer months when her father was working deep in the bush of Northern Ontario, Joan and her sister Betty, brother Hugh plus their dachshund Nipper, stayed with her late mother’s family in the Ottawa Valley. Joan helped feed animals and bale hay on her uncle’s farm near Woodlawn, braved the currents of the Ottawa River by swimming to Kedey Island, stocked shelves at the Dunrobin store, and learned to play tennis in Fitzroy Harbour. Under the loving guidance of her cherished aunts, she learned many important life lessons. Winters were spent at home in Sudbury, where she received her early education at Alexander Elementary School and Sudbury Mining Technical School. She spent countless hours climbing rocks, planning adventures with her sister and brother while they waited for the milkman’s horses and eagerly awaited fresh eggs sent by train from rural relatives, all special moments that became treasured memories of a childhood surrounded by family.

Joan began her nursing career in Sudbury while living in residence and training at the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing where she also completed rigorous practical experience under The Grey Nuns at St. Joseph’s Hospital until graduation in 1954. Joan often told humourous stories about the strict environment and how students would often sneak through scary tunnels to avoid the nuns or ascend to the roof where you could smoke a cigarette while enjoying a view of the whole city. She reflected on this time fondly and treasured the life-long friendships established while becoming a respected healthcare professional.

A modest nursing wage and desire to see more of Canada inspired Joan to board a train and accept a position with a much higher salary in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. While there, she met a very attractive Ukrainian man from Saskatchewan named Bill Yerema on a blind date. They would both claim they fell in love on the dance floor that night. On April 10th, 1959, Bill and Joan were married and while expecting their first child, made the decision to leave B.C. and move closer to Joan’s family in Sudbury, Ontario.

After giving birth to four children in five years, Bill and Joan moved to their beautiful home in Sunderland in 1965. Bill taught Industrial Arts at Brock High School in Cannington and Joan became a Nursing Supervisor at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, Ontario.

Joan was a dedicated nurse and a lifelong learner who earned her Health Administration degree by studying part-time over several years at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto. After retiring, she embraced her love of art, spending several months in New York City to attend the renowned Isobel O’Neil School of the Painted Finish.

Joan and Bill spent several months living in Florence, Italy where Joan shared her dream of opening an art gallery. Upon returning to Canada, the dream became a reality with the opening of The Magic Door Art Gallery, which for 12 years showcased original works by both Canadian and international artists. Joan and her daughter Jay also collaborated at the easel, blending their brushstrokes to create joint paintings that they exhibited for many years as part of the Uxbridge Studio Tour.

Joan loved to travel, exploring every corner of Canada and the United States, as well as venturing to England, Ireland, Portugal, Italy, and St. Kitts. She had a deep and lasting love for Aruba; on her 35^th visit she was named an honorary resident of the One Happy Island.

Joan embraced life to the fullest, deciding on her 91st birthday to get a miniature dachshund she named Nippertini (inspired by her first dog, love of a great martini, and his small size). Above all else, Joan saw the best in people and deeply cherished her family and friends. Her spirit was infectious and truly unique; she was a talented, intelligent, and remarkable woman whose grace and style were matched only by her contagious laugh and witty sense of humour. Recently, a family member described her as “the very best example of how to live your third act”, a sentiment that perfectly captured her later years.

Joan was truly one of a kind, and her passing has left an immeasurable void. She will forever remain in our hearts. Heaven has gained a beautiful angel.

Service and Luncheon