Joanne Patricia Martin, née Booth
Age 75, 8 August, 2023 Toronto, Ontario.

Joanne was born on the 27th of June, 1948, to Patricia née Spence and Sydney J. Booth and through unfortunate circumstances was raised in the foster system. Later in life Joanne reconnected with her birth parents and discovered an extended family with whom she got along great. Yet it was growing up in foster care that shaped her outlook on friendship and blurred the lines between what defines a friend or family. She would often say “Friends are the family that you choose.”

Joanne attended Loretto Abbey Catholic school from a young age; an experience that would fuel the passion of her faith throughout her life. She eventually met and married Douglas Martin and welcomed 4 children into the world. Angela (Greg), Lisa, Suzanne (Charles), and Daniel (Brenda).
Joanne would become fast friends with Douglas’ brother Bruce and his wife Louise - sparking a lifelong friendship.

To help provide for the family Joanne re-educated herself and got a job with the John Howard Society: kick-starting a fulfilling career in the field of criminal justice. It was on this path that she formed cherished friendships, with faces and names that have been elevated to familial status. (You know who you are)

Over the years, Joanne warmly welcomed nieces Julia (Dan) and Cindy (Kevin), and seven grandchildren: Beau, Myles, Karli (Fabian), Michael, Jada, William, and Hunter into the family. She was also a proud great grandmother to three: Liam, Nayana, and Sylvelin. She loved them all and took great pleasure in spending time with them or discussing their achievements.

Joanne was voracious for knowledge at any age and was rarely found without a book at her side. She also loved different cultures and foods and would often have pen pals or friends the world over with whom she corresponded regularly. She was active in the community volunteering her time, including with church groups, and at the age of 50 these passions collided and the result was a trip around the world starting with four months at a convent in India. The experience had a profound effect on Joanne and the journey never truly ended.

Joanne retired early to try her hand at entrepreneurship in the field of first aid education. She tackled the challenges that arose with the same fervor as everything else in life, still finding time to indulge her passion for knowledge and reading. This included taking courses where she met other remarkable people with whom she could share these passions for travel and knowledge.

Joanne was upbeat and optimistic about even the direst of things. Even in declining health she managed to show a smile or find the humour in everything. The embers of her faith, which had radiated heat and love consistently since her childhood, were ignited anew and she found purpose in that. Whether traveling by transit, or a friend/family she made every effort to attend mass - oxygen, walker and all.

Family and friends may most closely associate the imagery of an owl with Joanne, which stems from her time as a volunteer leader for Girl Guides of Canada. She had quite the collection of owl related items, from blankets to carvings and mugs. Fitting as a personification for her love of knowledge.
She was also fond of the butterfly, a life that undergoes stages, from caterpillar, through chrysalis to butterfly. A state of being untethered to the life it had known before. A form of beauty unlike anything it was before.
It is with this in mind that we say goodbye to our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, cousin, sister, and most of all; friend.
A life that, through chrysalis has transcended to a new state, a new beauty, unlike anything it was before.

Our family would like to make special thanks to St. Timothy’s Parish and its congregation for warmly accepting Joanne and for the use of its facilities.

Special thanks to West Park Healthcare Centre for their tireless work and professionalism in the care of Joanne.

Special thanks to North York General Hospital and its staff who cared for Joanne in her final moments that she might pass with dignity and love. With a special mention to Rommel, who went above and beyond.

Service Details are bellow, a link to online stream of mass is in Livestream button

If you are so inclined, the family would prefer donations in lieu of flowers to organizations that were dear to Joanne.

West Park Foundation or Canadian Cancer Society, link are available at bottom of page under make a donation