GREEN, JOAN - Joan Green was the daughter of Phyllis (Murphy) Green and the late Douglas Green. She is survived by her sisters, Pauline Thompson (Lawrence), Barbara Gilchrist (Sterling), and Kelly Green-Fillmore (James) and two brothers, Earl (Raymonde) and Fraser (Beth). Her oldest brother George died a few years ago. Joan was born in Sussex on April 24th, 1944. She died April 16th, 2009 at the Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario at the age of 64, eight days before her 65th birthday. Joan suffered all her life from Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. She spent the early part of her life - until she was 28 in her home under the care of her mother. She moved to Rocmaura nursing home in Saint John N.B. in 1975. This was to have been a temporary move but Joan established herself there, getting her first job as coordinator of Meals on Wheels and soon became active in personal spiritual direction and counseling. In 1982 Joan was given the opportunity to expand her ministry when she was invited by some university students to come to Toronto, Ontario where they promised to take care of her needs. As Joan put it: "They took care of my physical needs and I became the spiritual advisor to the community members." Her ministry in Toronto expanded so that she became active in teaching and preaching. She writes about herself: "I am a people person with special insights in the area of personality and character traits. This has opened a large field of prayer counseling and spirituality over the years. I have worked with priests and have assisted with psychological cases. During the past 26 years in the Archdiocese of Toronto, I have worked on parish missions, days of renewal, conferences plus numerous joint and private sessions of counseling and prayer." Joan was an Oblate in the Redemptorist Order and had celebrated her Silver Anniversary in 2008. Joan suffered a great deal of pain. She writes: "I experience a constant low grade of pain. Sometimes it's worst than other times. As I am growing older, I find that old age is interfering with my disability. I try not to let it interfere with ministry to God's people. Sometimes God permits me to see into the hearts of His people, to unlock the pain hidden there." How many times have I heard a client say: "How did you know that, I haven't told anybody?" Joan was a true minister of the Gospel. She writes: "We are the only hands and feet that Jesus has on earth now. We are here to complete his work, to bring all things into one with Christ Jesus." Joan lived the past fifteen years in Tobias House, which is a regular apartment dwelling with facilities for a number of physically disabled persons. There is full time and part time staff with emergency evening and overnight staff. She loved shopping and getting a few days away from her routine. Visitation and funeral Mass were held Toronto, prior to Joan being returned to Sussex, where visitation was held at St. Francis Xavier Church. The Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Francis Xavier Church on April 21st, 2009 with Rev. Arnie Hachey as presiding and co-celebrant Rev. William Comerford of Toronto, Rev. Peter Bagley and Rev. Kevin Berry. Al Smith was the organist and soloist. The pallbearers were nephews of Joan. Interment will be in Wards Creek Cemetery. "He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91 Verse 1