Joan Rosaleen Hewitt slipped away peacefully on December 13th, 2025, in the Emergency Department of the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital. Joan leaves behind her husband, Bob, of 62 years, her beloved son, Gregory, and many friends and acquaintances that she met along her way.
Joan was born in Belfast, Ireland, on March 5th, 1941, and emigrated to Canada with her parents in 1953. Upon arriving in Canada, they lived in Toronto, Halifax, and Winnipeg, and eventually returned to Toronto/Scarborough in the early 1960s and called it home. After her marriage to Bob in 1963, the Beach became home for the majority of Joan’s life.
Joan was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1965, Trigeminal Neuralgia in 2002, and Parkinson’s shortly thereafter. Due to the challenges of Multiple Sclerosis, Joan unfortunately lost her ability to walk in 1983. Despite these challenges, it never stopped her from getting out and about on her scooter, along with her sidekick, Ben, her beloved Bouvier. And later on, Arnold, her 2nd beloved Bouvier.
Joan has always enjoyed an active work life. She was a real estate agent, she assisted grade school children with remedial reading, was a makeup consultant at Simpson’s downtown, a medical receptionist, a rental agent, was involved in wholesale fabric supplies, and occasionally managed the front end of our manufacturing company, all while being a fantastic wife and mother.
Joan was perhaps the world’s best mother to our son, Gregory. The two of them ‘hacked around’ like brother and sister. They constantly made each other laugh about nothing, and it never stopped throughout their time together.
Joan also supported our son Gregory, his close friends and friends alike as a proud LGBTQ+ ally.
Joan was fortunate enough to have a doting father. They were both huge fans of horse racing and spent more days than I can count having lunch and betting on horses at Woodbine. Despite her father’s betting advice, Joan went her own way and bet on the horse’s winning history, stature and name.
Joan was also fortunate to have a strong friendship with her mother-in-law. They became thick as thieves and spent many sunny summer Saturday mornings searching for antique glass and rare finds at numerous rummage and garage sales. Once they were out on the hunt, there was no determining when they’d be back.
Joan was an athletic outdoorsy person as well. It started with softball in high school, and as an adult, her passion turned to yoga, cycling, swimming, and stretching exercises. She was also an avid walker and took Gregory everywhere she went. But more than anything else, Joan loved spending as much time as possible in or on the water at our cottage on Pen Lake, Huntsville. She was in her element there.
Joan was my lover, my confidant, partner-in-crime, unfailing supporter, and friend.
Goodbye, my sweet lil’ Chickadee. I hope we meet again. I will never forget you. I love you.
Gregory and I both love you.
– Bob
A huge thank you to all of the staff at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital for their incredible professionalism and compassionate care. It has meant more to us than we’ll ever begin to explain. Again, thank you so much.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.
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