JOAN ARMSTRONG MILLIGAN MASSEY

January 31, 2024

Joan Armstrong Milligan Massey of Kincardine died peacefully, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Chesley Hospital. She was 93. Born Aug. 2, 1930, in Toronto, she was the daughter of musicians Harry and Connie Milligan. Joan grew up in Parkdale and attended Queen Victoria Public School and Parkdale Collegiate Institute. She married Gordon Ferrier Massey, June 16, 1950. Her passion in school and throughout her life was her family and swimming. In her early working years, Joan had a variety of jobs working for Prudential, at the Old Spice factory and as a seamstress with the Canadian Opera company. Then, her work career was with the federal government, first in Old Age Security and then Canada Pension. When she retired and moved up to Kincardine to be with family, she needed some time to adjust. She found great pleasure swimming again and made many special friends. She had many great neighbours where she lived, and they became her community especially through COVID-19 pandemic times. She very much enjoyed her conversations with her friends in her building. They always looked out for her, coming in for little visits and chats and bringing her so many treats. When she could, Joan enjoyed walking the boardwalk and walking Point Clark beaches with her grandsons. She enjoyed sharing dinosaurs and race cars with her great-grandchildren. They never left a visit with GiGi without seeing her funny monkey face! Joan is survived by her loving daughters, Laura and Linda (Paul); grandsons, Matthew (Roberta), Eric (Renee), and Daniel (Tori); granddaughter, Kate; and great-grandchildren, Joshua, Alexandra, Declan and Callum. Also survived by her sister-in-law, Evelyn Milligan; nieces, Adele (Arunus) and Sandra; nephew, Grant David (Laurin); grand-nephews, Kyle, Devin, Sean, Rhys, and Lukas (Amy); and grand-niece, Katrina (Sean); as well as great-grand-nieces and -nephews. Joan was predeceased by her parents, Harry and Consuelo Milligan; brother, Henry Grant; sister, Shirley Milligan; and loving son-in-law, Donald MacIntyre. A special thank you to our close friends who made mom part of their family and a special thank you to mom’s PSWs, Megan and Katie, who helped care for mom over the past six months so that she could continue to live in the apartment that she loved. Also, a special thank you to Dr. Gary Gurbin, Elyse and Kelsey, for always taking the time to see her, when needed. A private family celebration will take place on Joan’s birth date. Donations can be made to Huron Shores Hospice in her memory; arrangements entrusted to the Davey-Linklater Funeral Home, Kincardine; www.daveylinklaterfuneralhome.com.