Joan Hartley

Joan Hartley

Obituary for Joan Hartley
Sadly we have lost the beloved matriarch of our family, Joan Elaine Hartley (Joni). She was a proud Canadian who loved to follow Canadian figure skating and of course, Hockey.
Born on January 27th, 1945, Joan had an impact on everyone she ever met. She will be deeply missed by her loving husband of 61 years, Richard Hartley, son Glen (Michelle), her miracle grandchild Valkyrie, brother Ken Gosnell (Sue), sister-in-law Ethel Grove (Al) and her adopted daughter Lynda Mainwaring. Joan is pre deceased by her brother Al Gosnell (Loretta) and her parents Mary and Keith Gosnell from Oil Springs, Ontario.
Joan lived larger than life and was an accomplished pianist, interior designer and successful sales representative. She had mastered the art of cooking and was generous beyond measure. Joan may have been 81 years old but lived with the joyous heart of an excited teenager. She loved life, music, fun, practical jokes, creating memorable experiences and she loved entertaining. Her home was a testament to her and so were her lovely gardens. Joan was like a little kid at Christmas and she especially loved this time of year. Her home decorating during this season was like a visit to Christmas Town. Joan made every Christmas magical. She loved her family immensely and she loved the congregation and all the Reverends over the years at St. Mark's by the Lake where she often accompanied the choir on the piano. Her church was a huge part of her heart and her generosity of spirit. Also mourning this spunky, scrappy, sweet and spicy woman will be her longtime neighbours (who naturally all became well loved friends), Helen and Steve, Velda and Terry , and Karen and Mario. Everything Joan loved, she loved deeply, especially the place she lived her last month's on this Earth. Joan's father built a cozy family cottage on the Pickerel River, by hand ,in the 1950s. In the last few years the cottage became a special haven for Joan and Richard, it was their happy place, their home away from home.
If you've ever seen pictures, you'd know why. The cottage was filled with treasured memories of simpler times, family, fishing, shore lunches and learning to run the river. Also, the view and the sunsets from the family room window are spectacular!
Joan wasn't one to be overly emotional when it came to personal feelings but you could tell her idea of Paradise was between Parry Sound and Sudbury. She passed away in her idea of paradise in the country she adored on January 9th, 2026 in Sudbury Ontario.
The funeral will be held at St Mark's by the lake on February 28th, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
Cremation has already taken place.
Donations to St. Mark's by the Lake (or any church), charitable organization, or person in need would be a wonderful tribute to an incredible human being who would smile knowing that you did it. She was a good woman with a cheeky grin, a loving heart and she will be greatly missed.
May she rest in sweet, well deserved peace.
The family would like to thank Reverend Ryan from St Mark's by the Lake for his unwavering support and kindness during the family's difficult transition without their beloved Joan.
They would also like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to all the nurses, doctors and caregivers who were phenomenal in caring for Joan in Sudbury. She was their favourite patient. (Of course she was.)
The funeral will be at St Mark's by the Lake Feb 28 2026 at 2pm