On October 23, 2023, Joan Phyllis Hotrum passed away at the age of 96 after a short 2 month stay at Extendicare Maple View nursing home in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. She is predeceased in death by her father, Harvey Angus Hotrum of Hamilton, Ontario and mother, Frances Nell (Tucker) Hotrum of Beaverton, Ontario; brothers George, Fred, Gordon “Bud” and Norman. She is survived by three generations of family beginning with her 3 children, Fraser Budd (Kitty), Marilyn Honey and Jim Villeneuve (Ann); 8 grandchildren: Shannon (Kevin), Gloria (Adam), Kimberly (Tyler), Katherine, Jason, Ben, Joshua (Kiersten) and Mike (Meghan); and 11 great grandchildren: Zach, Madd, Ashton, Kinton, Elijah, Lincoln, Aubrey, Jacob, Lucas, Jordan, and Teagan.
Joan was born on October 20, 1927, in Toronto, Ontario, and was the youngest of 5. As an adult, she lived in Toronto, Montreal and eventually settled down in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Joan loved reading books, namely westerns, historical fiction, and mysteries. She also loved animals. Bear was “her boy”, her beloved dog who kept her company many years ago. Even though her eyesight was failing her at the end, she always had a photo of Bear nearby.
Joan never met a stranger and looked for opportunities to share her faith with whoever would listen. She will forever be remembered by friends for her unshakeable love for our Creator, Jehovah and fellow worshippers, her unwavering faith in the Bible, her voracious appetite for physical and spiritual food, her funny facial expressions that let everyone know exactly what she was thinking, her fluffy white hair and striking blue eyes, her candor and outgoing personality, the simple way she lived, her impeccable memory, her potato salad and card game skills, the whack of library CD books she listened to every 2 weeks, stories about horseback riding, running really fast as a child, and planting “white celery” in Southern Ontario. There isn’t enough room to list everything she will be remembered for.
Many thanks and appreciation to the multitudes of medical staff at Sault Area Hospital including the paramedics who frequented her residence, and all the staff at Extendicare Maple View especially those on the 4th floor Harmony Bay unit. Everyone treated her like family, and this was really appreciated.
Services for Joan will be held virtually with Zoom teleconference on November 4, 2023, at 2:00pm. For details, please email [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Worldwide Work of Jehovah’s Witnesses at donate.jw.org/. Arrangements entrusted to O’Sullivan Funeral Home (215 St. James St., 705-759-8456, www.osullivanfuneralhome.com).