Joan Margaret (Boyer) Peat

With great sadness we announce the passing of Joan Margaret Peat, beloved wife of the late Harold Peat.  She passed away peacefully, with her family at her side, at St. Michael’s Health Centre on Monday, September 13, 2021 at the age of 95 years. 

Joan is survived by her Children Carolyn (Paul) Stevenson, Janice (Glenn) Varzari, and Barry Peat (Janice Loitz); Grandchildren Darren (Crystal) Stevenson, Colin Stevenson (Sara Konkin), Jennifer Varzari (Nick Noronha), Cara Varzari (Quintin Pike), Evan Peat (Larissa  Mankee), Matthew (Chelsey) Peat, A J Loitz (George Simmonds),and Nicole Loitz (Rob Hoar); Great Grandchildren Cayley Stevenson, Omari and Reon Noronha Varzari, Kya Varzari Pike, Athena and Zelda Peat, and Easton and Makenna Loitz-Hoar; as well as many Nieces and Nephews in the Peat and Boyer families.

As well as her husband Harold, Joan was predeceased by her parents Margaret and Stan Boyer, brothers Doug and Donald Boyer, mother in-law and father in-law Annie Laurie Stafford Peat and Norman Bonner Peat, and Harold’s brothers Bonner (Olive), Stafford (Paddy), George (Kay), and Cam.

Whether we called her Joan, Joanie (she loved/hated that), Mom, Grannie, or G.G., we all have strong memories of this independent, confident, powerhouse of a woman. She was a family person – in fact family was the most important thing in her life. She adored her children, grand-children, and great grand-children. She especially loved visits with her grands and great-grands where she shared her stories and (several) Tim Bits with them. She was always proud of and interested in their different activities and accomplishments and she consistently urged them to be the best they could be at whatever they were passionate about. Friendships were also paramount to her – she deeply valued these relationships and worked to stay connected with many lifelong friends. She was a warm host and a skilled cook and baker. For as long as she was able, she hosted regular Sunday dinners of salt + pepper seasoned rare roast beef and all the fixings and one (but usually more) of her famous pies. When she could no longer put on a full meal herself, she always brought a homemade pie to her children’s homes for their Sunday dinners (and there were some pretty heated debates over which was the best one – Apple with Velveeta cheese? Lemon meringue? Bumbleberry?).   And it wasn’t just pie baking that she excelled at - her cookies (oh those melt in your mouth whipped shortbreads), loaves, buns, and bread were all prize worthy. She was also skilled at knitting and crocheting and she painstakingly produced several complicated sweaters and baby blankets for her family members, and also mittens and many, many squares for Blankets for Canada. She loved taking trips to Montana (where she even occasionally practiced her golf swing) that had to include shopping for smart blouses (we never quite figured out what made a blouse “smart”, but boy did we ever look hard for “smartness”) and huckleberries for pies. But windy Waterton was her favorite destination for day trips and family picnics. She loved a good beer (always at room temperature to enhance the flavor) and dinners out at local restaurants; she was never without her lipstick, a fresh wash and set for her hair, and beautifully painted nails; she always wore bright colors (NEVER black); and she avoided the sun to such an extent that her 95-year-old skin was envied by many a 40 year old. She was fun and funny – she had a sharp wit, loved to playfully tease, and was quick to laugh and share that characteristic twinkle in her eyes. And even in her old age she didn’t become set in her ways and ideas, she remained willing to listen to and learn about the new viewpoints of her much younger family members. Yes, there were many exceptional things about this woman, but one thing that everyone in her life would agree on is that she gave the best warm hugs, hugs that we will miss but will always remember. 

A special thank you to all the wonderful staff at St. Michael’s Health Centre who cared for Joan, and to her doctors at Family Medical Centre for the exceptional care that she received.

A private family graveside service is planned. 

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