Obituary of Joan Marion Adams

JOAN MARION ADAMS (nee Berkeley)

March 8, 1925 – March 16, 2021

Joan Marion Adams was the great-great-granddaughter of Samuel Strickland, an author, historian, entrepreneur and pioneer whose enthusiasm for Canada encouraged his two sisters, Catharine Parr Traill and Susanna Moodie, to follow him from England in immigrating to Canada. She was the daughter of philatelist, Thomas Charles Berkeley (A History of Canada in Stamps, The Ryerson Press, 1957), also an emigrant from England. And she was a lifelong member of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE), where she served as President from 1974-1976, in awe of all the country had to offer as she visited IODE chapters in every Canadian province and territory.

It was at the height of the women’s lib movement that the press asked Mom if the ladies of the IODE would join the marches. Mom replied that the ladies are already liberated. Thousands of them across Canada raise millions of dollars from their communities and for their communities, she said. They build schools, libraries, hospital wings, and they fund scholarships, women’s shelters, and settlement programs for new Canadians. And they govern their affairs according to a Parliamentary structure that mirrors Canada’s. Mom introduced us to Robert’s Rules of Order. She taught us that Canadian history is rich and thrilling and the Canadian spirit is indomitable. When asked what she wanted to accomplish as the IODE President, she responded that she wanted to keep the organization independent of government.

Mom is predeceased by her daughter, Mary, and her husband and boon companion of 53 years, Robert Watson Adams, with whom she travelled the world, including to Greece for an emotional reunion with the citizens of the island of Sifnos, who helped Dad and his crew evade capture after their Wellington bomber was shot down over the Aegean Sea in 1943. Together Mom and Dad lived and loved all that is precious in life. Mom is survived by her son, John, her daughter, Patricia, sons-in-law, Lawrence Solomon and Steve Douglas, and granddaughters, Essie and Catharine Solomon.

In Mom’s memory, a donation could be made to the IODE or to the O’Neill Centre. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.

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