Joan Sandra “Joanie” (O’Farrell) Ibbitson passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at the Aberdeen Hospital Palliative Care Unit, New Glasgow, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
She spent the last few months of her life as she always did, surrounded by those she loved
Joanie was born on November 7, 1947 in Springhill, Nova Scotia, the second child of the late Emma (Coon) and William S. O’Farrell.
She later moved to Amherst and finally settled in New Glasgow where she spent the better part of her adult life. Joanie spent over 30 years as a business manager in the automotive industry working in various dealerships. When she wasn’t at work, she was passionate about music (especially singing and harmonizing), four-wheeling, going on tour in her “little car”, her feline friends (Winnie Pearl and George and grand kitties Fergus and Oliver), and most of all spending time with her family.
She is survived by her loving husband, best friend and confidant of 40 years, Eric Ibbitson, her daughter Jill (John Muise), brother Bill O’Farrell (Elizabeth), special niece Katie O’Farrell (Ryan Sutherland) and numerous other nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews as well as extended family and friends.
She was predeceased by her mother Emma O’Farrell, father William S. O’Farrell and special grandmother Nettie Mae Coon.
Her remains will rest in the H.W. Angus Funeral Home, New Glasgow for visiting from 7-9 p.m. on Monday, March 16 from where a funeral service will held Tuesday, March 17 at 2 p.m. with Pastor Caroline Barclay presiding. A reception will follow in the funeral home. Burial will take place at a later date in the Abercrombie Cemetery.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Aberdeen Hospital Palliative Care Society, the Pictou County SPCA (Granton) or to the Lodge That Gives, Halifax.
To the woman we learned everything from, thank you for being real. This instilled in all of us the confidence needed to be who we are and be proud of who that person is. Your strength and courage has taught us that giving up is never an option. You carried yourself with such class and dignity that you showed us the importance of being respected and giving respect. Your selfless nature allowed us to see the importance of being kind and that helping others is the best way to help oneself. You taught us how to love deeply with patience and kindness and that trust and honesty are the key to a great life. Your honesty is something we will always cherish and take with us moving forward. As you leave this world, you are taking a little piece of us with you, but leaving us all with a piece of you that we will cherish in our hearts forever. We hope you look down on us and be proud of what you have taught us, knowing that we will do everything we can to continue and make you proud. We love you always.
It’s never good bye, it’s till we meet again.