...Joan Sherry Schuster was born on April 10, 1941, in Kitchener, Ontario to Frank and Alma Schuster.
Her sister, Janice, remembers looking up to her big sister, Joan, who is 3 years older than she is.
"Joan, Dee & I shared a bedroom in our first house on Wellington St. Every night, instead of reading bedtime stories, Joan would tell Dee & me stories...her made-up stories which were better than any books, in my opinion.
What an imagination she had! Joan & Dee, do you remember the "Nope Girl?" She was one of Joan's greatest inventions; you could ask her anything, but all she'd answer was, "Nope." How frustrating for little Dee & me, who would ask & ask, but all we got was, "Nope."
Another memory of bedtime: the house we lived in was big & old; I remember spiders (a life-long fear of mine) occasionally in our bedroom. I was so scared, I couldn't go to sleep; I wanted to pull the covers right over my head, but on hot, humid nights, that would have been horrible. I can remember asking Joan: "Joan, are your hands out of the covers?" And if she answered, "yes," I felt I could do the same. I could be as brave as Joan.
While living on Wellington St., a lady came door-to-door, offering guitar lessons. Joan, Dee & I were still in public school (as we called it, then). As Joan was the oldest, Mom & Dad decided she'd be the one to take the lessons. Did she enjoy these lessons? In my opinion, no. Why did she practice diligently every day then? To get out of helping clean up after supper. Poor Dee & me, drying the dishes, every night, while Joan played "Old Black Joe," & other little tunes, smiling at us all the time, 'cause she didn't have to help! And as soon as the dishes were done, away went that guitar till the next day.
The years went by. Joan graduated from KCI, & went on to Business College. I can remember Mom & me watching her walk up the street, to catch the bus...very vivid memories. Why? Because of Joan's gorgeous clothes! She always had such a flair for putting outfits together.
In 1964, Joan had a beautiful daughter, Jackie. They moved to Toronto, & then on Dec.10, 1964, Joan & Jackie moved to Vancouver with Mom & Dad. I kept Jackie's picture on my bedside table, at nurses' residence for the three years I was in training.
I missed Joan so much. There was no e-mail then, nor texting, just the old-fashioned letters. For one of my birthdays, Joan made a dress for me, sewed it herself; It was pale green & had an invisible zipper up the back; it fit me perfectly; I was the envy of all my friends.
When I graduated from nursing school, I moved to the West Coast, & Joan & Jackie & I moved in together, into a big apartment in Burnaby. Later on, Mom & Dee moved to Vancouver, too, so once again, we were all together."
Joan worked at many places during those early years in Vancouver, including the Vancouver General Hospital. Joan enjoyed three years in BC with both her parents, but tragically, she lost her beloved father in an automobile accident.
Eventually, both sisters, Janice and Deanna also moved to Vancouver. The three of them settled in a house on South West Marine Drive. It was then that Joan met Ron Samson, and married him three years later.
In 1971, Julie was born. At that time, Ron, Joan, Jackie, Julie, and Alma lived in a house on Gladstone Street in Vancouver. The little house became much smaller with a new baby, and in the fall of 1972, the family moved to Burnaby. The house on Parker Street was big enough to have a suite downstairs for Alma.
During this period, Joan worked for Western Wheel, and then she left Western Wheel to help start a new company, Rimex. When Julie was four years old, Joan began working for Rimex out of her home office. She was able to spend more time with her family.
In 1976, Alma moved out of the home to live at the Burnaby General Extended Care Facility. The following year, the family moved to Surrey on a small acreage. It was everyone's dream come-true, with a yard big enough for horses and a swimming pool. Many enjoyable summer days were spent with Joan's sisters and their families hanging around the pool. Jackie remembers many evenings spent with her Mom, with Joan helping Jackie with homework, or just talking. There sometimes were fights (eh, sorry about that, Mom), but always behind everything Joan did, and still does was for her children. She sacrificed a great deal so her children could have the very best.
Jackie and Julie, now in grades 8 and 1, attended the local schools, with Julie at Zion Park School, and Jackie at Cloverdale Junior Secondary. Joan and her family became involved in the Church, Zion, and made many long-lasting friendships there. Joan attends Zion to this day, and is a well-loved member of the Church community. She especially has enjoyed singing in the choir, attending bible study, and looking after the children in the nursery.
In 1982, Jackie graduated from high school, and moved away to UBC. Julie began high school two years later. Unfortunately, in the fall of 1984, the family said goodbye to the house on 74th Avenue. Joan and Ron went their separate ways, and Julie and Joan moved to a basement suite in White Rock. This was a very difficult time for Joan, as she also lost her position at Rimex shortly after the move.
Joan's ability to bounce back after a hard time meant that she was able to find a new job very quickly. Her connections at the Church led her to an even better job at Zion Park Manor, a position she held until her retirement in 2006. 17 yrs. She loved working at Zion Park Manor, helping the staff with their payroll questions and helping the residents that would often sit in the chairs by her office. Quite often staff would seek out Joan's assistance with human resource questions, whether be their long term disability claims, or just a question about their benefits as an employee. Joan was well-known by the staff as being patient, understanding, and very wise with the numbers. They highly respected her.
She was also well known for all her beautiful outfits. Staff would often comment how all her outfits flowed together, from earrings to her shoes, everything matched. Staff would muse that "Joan had a co-ordinated outfit for everyday of the year; Julie would smile and agree with them.
The other reason she enjoyed working at Zion Park is that she got to work with Julie for 10 yrs. Julie was working as an RN and would often pop in to see Joan on her break or for a quick “hello” during her shift. It was a very positive, and finally a happy working time for Joan.
During this time she moved out of the basement in White Rock to an apartment in Cloverdale, closer to her work, and the church. The move to her apartment in Cloverdale, and her new job at Zion Park were both blessings from the Lord. They were a turning point, from the difficulties that had been in the previous years, to finally some peace, respect, and happiness. It was a happy time for Joan, things were flowing together. She lived with Julie in the apartment for 6 years until Julie moved out.
Joan continued to be busy with church activities, and friends, but she found it hard to live alone after being with someone for so many years. So in 1998 she moved into the basement suite of the house that Julie and her husband owned. Work at Zion Park continued, and Joan put her heart and soul into her job. She loved what she did at Zion, and it showed by her joy, and her outfits!
In 2002, a new role came into her life; another grandchild and a babysitting job. As Joan lived in the basement of Julie's home, it was only natural to help out with grandchildren. Already blessed with Jackie's 4 beautiful children, Joan was tickled pink to have 2 more from Julie. Nothing brought more joy and happiness to Joan than to be with her grandchildren. She often would spend the night at Jackie's house to babysit when both parents worked nightshift, willing to do anything to help with her grandchildren. She spent many hours reading, cuddling, and tickling. Joan loves being a Grandma.
Joan lived with Julie for 10 years. In 2005 retirement came upon her. Her hip had been hurting for some time, causing her to have trouble walking around at work, and she hit the golden number 65. Sadly she left her work "family". As Julie's two busy boys were growing, and needing more room to bounce off the walls, a hard decision was made. The family needed more room in the basement; Joan had to look for a new place to live. It was a difficult time again to move away from the family, but she understood. Not sure where to move, and feeling sad, she prayed. A few weeks later her prayers were answered as a very kind lady at work offered to let her live in a house on their property for extremely low rent; almost unheard of. Joan moved again. Still in Cloverdale, close to church, and Julie's family.
Retirement was a huge adjustment time for Joan, as she had worked for 50 years. Starting when she was 15 with babysitting, until 65, retiring from the Manor; it was a long time to work. Feeling lots of different emotions ranging from happiness, that she could sleep in, to feeling alone, it was a new time in her life.
After her hip surgery, she spent some quiet time adjusting to her new slower life, and her new hip. It didn't take long though before she bounced back, and became involved in church activities again, and boating. Her boating experiences were thanks to BC ferries, as she could be found sailing the high seas back and forth to Nanaimo visiting Jackie and her family, and also her sister Dee, who had moved to the Island.
She continued to immerse herself in being a Grandma, and helping out as much as she could. Nanaimo could see her whizzing around town taking grandkids to activities, ranging from skating to brownies, and occasionally aimlessly driving around lost on one of the many “Jingle Pot Roads” that connect the town.
These days Joan lives in Langley in an apartment near Julie. She keeps herself busy with church, and helping out her kids. Her time is spent enjoying family in Nanaimo, and family in Langley. Although life is slower, and a lot less demanding, Joan keeps herself busy enough. Her happiness and joy comes from her love for God, and her family.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Joan, you deserve all the Blessings the Lord has in store for you!!!!
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