Obituary of Joan Marie Diaz
Joan Marie Diaz (Quinless) after a brief battle with cancer at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario died February 21, 2014. Born May 30, 1938 in Secunderabad, India, cherished daughter of Patrick and Mona Quinless ( both deceased), loving wife to the late James Diaz (2008), Treasured mother to Kristine Diaz (Ken Fanni), Floyd Diaz (Wendy ), Michelle Diaz (Neil Bates), Robert Diaz (Tammy). Adored Nana to the Fanni brothers, Alexander, Michael and David, the Diaz trio, Amy (Queen Bee), Sebastian and Christopher and her beloved BC treasures, Spencer, Hunter, Sophie (Princess). She will be missed by her brother Frederick Quinless and family, Alan Quinless and family as well as the Diaz family in Australia and India and the Robinson families in Toronto, New York and India. Joan loved sharing her life stories with her family. She lived through the partition of India in 1947 and the dying days of the Raj. She met her beloved James and then took a leap of faith and moved to Canada. She went from being a stay at home mother with help to returning to school and entering the work force with her last job as a manager at the Ontario Securities Commission. She was the quintessential lady with exacting standards as to how one behaved and we all rose to her expectations. Above all she loved her family and lived for family gatherings. Her grandchildren had many an Easter egg hunt at her home in Burlington. There were digs for buried treasure in her yard, and many a pig roast. Fishing and camp fires at her beloved Blueberry Point home on Mutton Lake were an annual summer experience. Joan had a deep and abiding faith which served her on her final journey where her husband James and sister Patty (2008) are waiting to hold her in their loving arms. Our families stand on her shoulders and will strive to honour her memory. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the following people: Dr. Gil Schreier and Dr Allison Crombeen for your compassionate care of our mother. To the nursing staff of the palliative care unit at Victoria Hospital, you are truly angels of mercy. Maureen and Jan Marie, thank you for feeding our families. Elaine, thank you for the baked goods and food. Lisa Pearlman, thank you for your support. To Father Pio D'Oria,for supporting our mother in her final sacrament. In Joan's memory say a prayer, tell your family you love them and do your best every day. Funeral mass at a St. John the Divine Catholic Church on Tuesday February 25, 2014 at 11 am with a light luncheon to follow at the church hall. Cremation with Interment in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery at a later date.
