Joan Cross passed away with her family by her side on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, at North York General Hospital. She was predeceased by her great love of 76 years, her husband, Dr. Ted Cross, her parents Bertha Wilson and Frank Smallman, her sister Marjory Kyle (Vernon) and her brother William Smallman (Lois). Joan is survived by her four children, Dr. William (Anne), Robert (Clara), Patricia Joan and Tom (Beverley), her grandchildren, Robert (Resie), Cassidy and Evan, and her great-grandchildren, Linda and Noah.

Joan grew up in Toronto, graduating from Lawrence Park Collegiate and earning a BA from the University of Toronto. Positions at the British Embassy in Washington DC and then at the Toronto Star as a copy editor would follow before she was to marry a young man she had met while still in high school – on a double date at Dunn’s Pavilion in Muskoka. She would go on to raise four children, work as a counsellor in family health services, become a founding member of the Donalda Club, become active in and eventually President of the University of Toronto Women’s Club of North York, work eighteen years with her husband at the former Toronto East General Hospital, all while spending summers at the family cottage in Muskoka. Tennis and bridge at the Donalda Club, film, reading, eating anything lemon, and travelling with her dear friends kept her spirit young. On Ted’s retirement, they settled at Highgate where she formed new friendships playing duplicate bridge.

Joan was enormously creative, encouraging her children in their love of music, while writing, producing and directing church pageants and many small amateur plays with the neighborhood children. She could always be relied upon to pen a quick poem for a party or supply lyrics to Ted’s music. She was vibrant, gracious, smart, and a fiercely loyal individual who expressed her love through her actions. She remained close to her high school friends, and those she met through the University Women’s Club, their entire lives. The touchstone of her life was her love story with Ted. She was the glue that kept this family together – our exceptional Mom and we will miss her! Our sincere thanks to the thoughtful, caring staff of North York General Hospital.

Visitation at Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre- 375 Mount Pleasant Road on Sunday, October 22nd, 2023, at 1 pm followed by a Service of Remembrance at 1:30 pm and Inurnment.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society of Canada are most welcome.

For memories and condolences please visit www.etouch.ca