Joan Lou MEUNIER

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Joan Lou Meunier (nee Bokenfohr) in Fernie, B.C. on July 4, 2022.  Joan will be lovingly remembered by her two sons Lyle (Kathy) Soetaert and Shayne (Mary-Jane) Soetaert and her adopted daughter Joelle (Ben) Chelkowski as well as her eight grandchildren Nichelle, Grayson, Emma, Holly, Leah, Emily, Jack, and Julia and her beloved great granddaughter Daxton.  Joan is predeceased by her husbands, George Soetaert and Noel Meunier and her brother Eric Bokenfohr.  Joan leaves behind her sister Marion Friedrich, numerous nieces and nephews and a large extended family.

Joan was born the youngest of three children to Martha and Henry Bokenfohr on March 16, 1944.  She grew up on a farm near Villeneuve, where she met her husband George in 1960, and they were married in 1962. Joan attended the University of Alberta, and after obtaining her teaching degree she spent many happy years working in elementary schools in St. Albert, especially with her mentally and physically challenged students.

After the sudden loss of her first husband George in 1983, Joan was happily re-married on February 25, 1989 to Noel (Chris) Meunier and the two spent many joyful years together wintering in Phoenix and hosting family and friends for dozens of gatherings in their home.  Joan always had an open heart and an open door for anyone who came calling and she loved to be surrounded by family and friends.  Family celebrations at the Villeneuve Hall with George’s family were always special and Joan cherished her close relationship with George’s mother Alphonsine and all of her brothers and sisters-in-law. Tragically, Chris passed too soon in 2003 and Joan missed him terribly all the rest of her years. We are thankful to Bill McNamara who was a good friend and companion through many of those years.

We are so glad that in Joan’s final months she was once again surrounded by all the family that she loved so much.  There were many days filled with sunshine, laughs, peanut butter cups, Ice Caps, and Slurpees.  The family will be eternally grateful for the amazing care and compassion received from Dr. Shelley Forrest and the wonderful team of nurses and staff at the Fernie Hospital. We can’t thank you enough. “Grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved.  Where there is deep grief, there was great love.”

www.cherishedmemoriesfs.com