Foster, Johanna Bertram
Nestled at Hospice Simcoe, with three of her four children and Jack, her husband of 61 years, holding her hand, Johanna Bertram Wilkie Foster peacefully had her last earthly breath on Friday, November 18, 2011. Born in 1918 in Lethbridge, Alberta, in the midst of a flu epidemic that took her father, Joan grew up in Toronto. She bravely joined the St. John’s Ambulance and nursed the blind in England in WW II. An ardent storyteller, children Charles (and Lisa, Saskatoon), Beth (and Robin James, Barrie), David (Toronto) and Joanne (and Rick Kalte, Midhurst), were raised on tales of ghosts, bomb raids, hospital wards filled with singing soldiers and an Atlantic crossing on a munitions ship. Joan’s motto was to never let the facts interfere with a good story. She wed the love of her life, Jack, in 1950. The kids were lucky to be raised in Essex. Joan and Jack then lived in Kingsville, London and finally settled in Barrie to be close to grandchildren and their beloved Lake of Bays cottage. Ten grandchildren will now get a bird plate. They are Andrew Butler (Kate Kelly), Liz McDowell (Todd), Bronwen Foster-Butler (Rob Spicer), Stephanie (Mark Kutlesa), Christina (Felix Solomon) and Amanda Foster, Lindsay, John and David Foster. and Brayden Kalte. Joan also leaves to mourn a beloved niece and flower girl, Mary-Jean Smith. Enormous thanks to those who cared for our dear Mom with tenderness and patience: everyone at RVH and Woods Park Convalescent Care floor, the CCAC, and especially Hospice Simcoe. The extraordinary kindness and understanding of Dr. Brian Morris eased her final days so much. A celebration of life will be held at the Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home, 201 Minet’s Point Rd., Barrie on Saturday November 26 from 2:00 until 5:00. Tributes will be made at 2:00. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice Simcoe or the charity of your choice. “This above all: to thine own self be true. "