Joan Olive Biggs

Mrs. Joan Olive Biggs (nee Carter), age 89 years, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 25th, 2021, at Hogarth Riverview Manor in Thunder Bay, after a decade long battle with dementia following a stroke. Joan was born on September 6th, 1931, in Dauphin, Manitoba. She and her family moved to Thunder Bay, where she met her husband Barry and they together raised their sons, Dana and Barry.

Joan was an incredibly caring, hard-working, and determined woman. She did so much for others, and always with precision and absolute dedication. When told not to worry about doing something, she would always reply enthusiastically, “Oh no, I won’t worry about it, I’ll just do it!”. This extended to all areas of her life.

She was an incredible cook and baker. Joan would be up all hours of the night, packing food for grandchildren’s lunches or road trips. Everyone loved her sandwiches – made to specification, cut precisely into thirds (“it makes it much easier to handle”), wrapped carefully in wax paper, and labelled with everyone’s name. She spent hours creating elaborate themed birthday cakes that we will always remember and never be able to reproduce. Time and effort meant nothing to Joan when she was doing things for those she loved.

These attributes also made her an excellent nurse. She worked in the newborn nursery at the Port Arthur General Hospital and was the Head Nurse there for many years. The pinnacle of her career was her involvement in opening the first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Northwestern Ontario. After retirement, she and Barry spent their winters in Naples, Florida and summers at Loon Lake. “Retirement” didn’t last long. She quickly became involved as a volunteer with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, where she took the lead on various initiatives at the volunteer staffed Help Desk.

Barry and Joan were both avid skiers. They were involved in establishing Mount Baldy as a ski hill and Joan was a long-standing member of the Mount Baldy Lady’s Auxiliary. Nothing could stop her as she continued to ski into her seventies. Her love for the sport spilled over to her children and grandchildren. On snowy days in winter, Joan would fondly recall years past when she would let Dana and Barry skip school and go to the hill instead.

Joan was lovingly called G’Ma by her grandchildren and all their friends. She was a focal point in their lives. She supported her grandkids unconditionally and shared their successes and difficulties. Her door was always open and she would drop everything to help out. We have felt her love in so many ways.

Joan will be missed by her son Barry (Mary-Beth), daughter-in-law Jill Biggs; grandchildren Jacob Biggs (Ashley), Colin Biggs (Lisa), Samantha Biggs (Ravi), Mallory Minthorn-Biggs, and Hayley Minthorn-Biggs. She also leaves behind seven beautiful great-grandchildren whom she would have adored – Archer and Maxwell Biggs, Dana and Kieran Biggs, and Anya, Dhillon and Neelam Dhaliwal. Joan also leaves behind her nieces Vicky Maloney and Tanis Stirling and nephew Roger Brickman. Joan was predeceased by her husband Barry, son Dana, parents Earl and Myrtle Carter and sisters Rita Brickman and Mona Maloney.

As per Joan’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no service. The family would like to thank the amazing staff on 5 North at Hogarth Riverview Manor. If friends so desire, donations to the St. Joseph’s Care Group or the Humane Society would be greatly appreciated.