Obituary of Joan Livingston

JOAN VANSTONE LIVINGSTON On a beautiful summer day, God came for the soul of Joan Livingston. She had a wonderful, happy and long life, and died on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 in her 93rd year. Dearly loved and loving wife of Bill (d 2007) for 59 years, and cherished mother of Bob (Laurel), Brian (Michele) and Anne (Stan). Daughter of Harold and Ethel Vanstone, and younger sister to the late Marion Lesslie. Devoted Nana,manager and chief sweater maker to her nine grandsons (the "BB Team") Michael (Brie), Ted (Christine), Blair, the late Jack, Tim, Patrick, Matthew, Andrew and David, and great-grandmother to Emily, Marcus and Graham. She will be missed by her favourite dog Piper. Joan's life led her from her birthplace in Toronto to Branksome Hall School, on to her fun filled days at Glen Bernard camp and finally to the University of Toronto studying Social Work. The passage to U of T was interrupted by her service in World War II. Joan joined the WRENs and travelled to Canada's naval base in Esquimalt on the B.C. coast. There she drove the camp commandant's car, put the cook to bed drunk, and first learned to do her marvellous baking. After the war, marriage to Bill brought a wonderful life filled with family and moves to Hartford, New York and Winnipeg. Joan was devoted to her participation in the Big Sisters Association, Garden Club (with her love of flower arranging), Women's Shelter Workshop and was an active supporter of many other community activities. She was the first to welcome people to the community, make them feel at home and reap the gift of treasured friends for life. Joan was well known for delivering her now famous brownies to households that had experienced a birth or death. These soon became known as the BBs, for Baby Brownies or Bereavement Brownies, depending on the event that had taken place. Our heartfelt gratitude to everyone at the Salvation Army Meighen Manor and Amica Bayview. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A.W. MILES - NEWBIGGING CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12th. A celebration of Joan's life will be held in TIMOTHY EATON MEMORIAL CHURCH, 230 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27th. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome contributions to the Salvation Army or the charity of your choice. If you are at the cottage, Mom would want you to enjoy it and not come back to Toronto. Just before she died, her daughter Anne told Mom that she could now get in the car and drive up to heaven to see Dad. At that moment she opened her eyes, looked up and smiled. She is now at peace, and hopefully she and Dad are helping themselves to the BBs in Heaven. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com.