The extended Denhamer family is sad to announce the passing of our Matriarch, Joan Denhamer, on Tuesday July 12th. Joan is predeceased by her husband John, March 2019, and her sisters Laurel Connors and Grace Wright, both of whom lived in Australia.

Joan was born December 20th, 1931 in Northern Queensland, Australia, in the farming community of Cairns. Joan’s father died when she was 2 and Joan spent her formative school years at a Boarding School in the nearby town of Townsville, returning home for the summers.

Joan met the love of her life, John, who was staying in one of her mother’s boarding rooms and they married on December 7, 1951 in Brisbane. Their 68-year marriage was a partnership of love, travel, games, life long friendships and service.

Joan leaves a legacy through her surviving family members, her sons’ Peter (Janet) and Fergus, six grandchildren, Julie, Andrew, Michael, Tyson, Kyra and Liam and two great grandchildren, Casey and Isamu.

Joan and John planned a two year visit to Canada in 1966 and the family so loved the people, the Columbia Valley, Rocky Mountains and Canada they formalized their immigration. In 1971 they built their dream home on the mountainside golf course at Fairmont Hot Springs where they lived until 2018. The majestic setting of the location was a continual source of gratitude and joy for them.

Joan worked as a legal assistant in Australia and on moving to Columbia Valley worked with the Fairmont resort complex as the Executive Assistant to the Fairmont Resorts Presidents, Lloyd Wilder and then Carol Wilder. Joan was an extrovert who loved the interaction and the sense of belonging. In her later years one of Joan’s greatest pleasures was her daily “book club/wine club” with Lynn, Carol, Wilma, Pat and others who would drop by for the conversations. More recently her visits with Kelly Stewart-Hill, Gail Rossington and Eileen Fiell at the hospital were a source of strength for Joan.

Services to be announced at a later date.