Obituary of Joanie Elizabeth Bruce

Joanie Elizabeth Bruce 20 February 1949 – 07 July 2016 Passed away peacefully at the Miller Centre, Palliative Care Unit, St. John’s, with family and friends at her side on 7 July 2016. Often referred to as “Our Joanie” by Daddy, our Joanie has left this world a better place at the young age of 67. Joanie was one of the most caring, compassionate, positive, empathetic, generous, grateful, accepting, wise, adventurous, and straight forward human beings you could meet. She was the family caregiver from a very young age. A baygirl (Jersey Side), she left home at 17 to work in St. John’s boarding at the Sisters of Service. Like so many, she sent money home to help the family. Joanie worked her way up to Manager of the Cardio-Pulmonary Dept. at the Janeway Children’s Hospital, where she worked for 23 years. Subsequently, Joanie completed her degree in Business and thereafter, worked in health promotion at Grenfell Hospital, St. Anthony. A pillar of strength for her family, friends and community, everyone knew they could depend on “our Joanie”. Beloved daughter, sister, sister-in-law, godmother, aunt, niece, and friend; if you knew Joanie, you loved Joanie. A veteran, Joanie enjoyed many adventures in the Naval Reserve at HMCS CABOT as a Petty Officer and Officer. Her public service was far reaching including the military, provincial health, various support groups and a community volunteer. Joanie founded a Mental Health Support Group over 30 years ago in St. John’s with Dr. Jain. She also founded and facilitated the NL Chapter of the American Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. (ThyCa). Joanie served as a member of several organizations over the years: Legion, Toastmasters, Positive Thinkers Club and others. Joanie loved life and lived it on her terms. Her love of travel took her to Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Caribbean, throughout the United States and across Canada, with many visits to Ottawa. Joanie also loved the simple things in life like trout fishing, berry picking, hanging out clothes, dancing especially the ‘old fashioned waltz’, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, majorettes as well as fine dining (Raymonds). Joanie carried the torch in support of Mental Health her whole life and truly felt there was not enough support for those who cope with these issues. As a tribute in her memory, we take this opportunity to share with you her innermost feelings about her cancers (thyroid and recent stage IV breast cancer) and depression. Joanie always said that she would take cancer any day, even stage IV breast cancer, over depression. She repeated this again in her final days. Joanie took great comfort and joy in the camaraderie from the ladies, both knitters and Dragon boaters, of the Breast Cancer Support Group. The Bruce Family extends their sincere gratitude to the numerous medical professionals who cared for “our Joanie”. Special thanks to Dr. McCarthy and her team, Dr. Fontaine, Dr. Rees, Dr. Slade, Dr. Murray, Dr. Eaton and Dr. Hurley, as well as the Health Sciences Centre’s nurses and the angels at the Palliative Care Unit, Miller Centre. Palliative Care is an amazing environment, where our beloved Joanie found so much comfort during her final days. Predeceased by her loving parents, Michael and Betty Bruce of Jersey Side. Leaving to mourn, Aunt Alice (Bruce) Kelly, her siblings Michael, Cathy (Bill) Hayter, Richie (Rita), Alice (Randy) McWhirter, Willie (Brenda), Pat (Genny), Martha (Paul) White, Anna Marie (Chuck) Morrow; nephews and nieces - Michael (Hayter) (godson), Gregory and David, Shyama, Nicole and Stephen, Claudette, Pierre and Pat, Paul and Jason, Michael (Morrow), Betty (goddaughter), Eddie and Susie (Meaney), Greg, Michael, Janet and Neal (Connors); grand-nieces and nephews – Reine, Jaden, Brandyn and Braeden; Yvonne (Power) Taylor (goddaughter); best friend, Shirley and an extensive network of true friends. Rest in Peace our loving and amazing sister. We shall love you forever and you will live on in our hearts, memories and stories. Joanie lived her life by the Serenity Prayer. “Lest We Forget”. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Joanie’s life at Coomb’s Funeral Home in Placentia from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM on Sunday, 10 July and a funeral Mass will be held in Sacred Heart church in Placentia at 11AM Monday, 11 July. Internment will follow at the Dermot McGettigan Memorial Cemetery, Southeast, Placentia. In lieu of flowers, donations are gratefully accepted for the Mental Health Association of Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador (CMHA-NL) Janeway Children’s Hospital, Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”