Obituary of Roberta Smith

Joan Smith of Wetaskiwin, formerly of Camrose,passed away peacefully at Wetaskiwin Long Term Care on November 15, 2014 at the age of 97 years. Joan was born in Liverpool, England 97 years ago, the youngest of four children. Her mother and her sister Marjorie died when she was 16, within 6 months of each other, and her brother Charlie died in a WWII Prisoner of War camp in Japan. As a member of the British Women's Auxiliary Air Force in World War II, Joan was stationed in many places in England working as a radar plotter. It was at the base at Bolt Tail, Devon, on New Year's Eve, 1944/45 that she met and fell in love with a Canadian radar operator, Russell Smith. Over the next 8 months, they had a courtship that was often interrupted by breaks as one or the other was re-posted to other bases. They were married on August 9, 1945, just as the war was ending. Russ was repatriated back to Canada within 2 weeks. Joan arrived in May of 1946, and with great enthusiasm fell in love with her adopted country. She didn't return to England until 1977, but made many trips back to visit friends and relatives after that. Her father died soon after she arrived in Canada, and her eldest sister Phyllis, in 1960. Russ and Joan lived in Killam, Sedgewick and Camrose, raising three children - Doug, Pat and Barbara. Joan continued to soldier on after Russ died in 1980. For many years, she had a special friendship with Uncle Bob, Russ's brother, who lost his wife 6 months after Russ died. She remained in her home in Camrose until 2009, when she moved to Madyson Manor, and later to the Extended Care Centre in Wetaskiwin. Family, community and church were very important to Joan. She was involved in the activities of her children, IODE, WA/ACW and the altar guild of St. Andrew's Camrose. She led the St. Andrew's Junior Auxiliary when the girls were young. She learned to curl and bowl. It is not surprising to know that she loved to travel, and especially loved to camp. Joan passed away peacefully on November 15, 2014. She is lovingly remembered by Douglas (Karen) Smith, Pat (Bruce) Tilbrook and Barbara (Brian) Burrows; seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren (who know her as GG): Scott Smith and Indika Gnanaratna; Brenda Smith and Cliff Boyd; Shauna and Dean Oster; Heather and Gord, Noah and Makynna Nuttall; Janet and Jay, Tayla and Kaiya Reiter; Andrew and Heather, Desrée, Siobhan, Cassie and Sage Burrows; Lisa and Cam, Addison and Jensen Blair; as well as Sue Smith and many cousins, nieces and nephews in Canada and England. A Funeral Service was held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, November 22, 2014 from St. Andrew's Anglican Church with Archdeacon Jacques Vaillancourt officiating. Interment followed in the Camrose Cemetery. If family and friends so desire, memorial donations are gratefully accepted to St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Camrose, the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation or a charity of your choice.