With our hearts heavy with love and gratitude, we announce the peaceful passing of Joanne Marie Hurley, surrounded by family, friends, and her beloved husband Basil Hurley, on December 26, 2024, at Pine Grove Nursing Home. Joanne, who faced the challenges of living with dementia for 17 years, leaves behind a legacy of love, generosity, laughter, learning and adventure.
Joanne was born on January 3, 1943, in Brunswick, Maine, to Raymond and Simone (Lavoie) Doyon.
Her journey through life was as dynamic as her spirit, touching hearts wherever she went. Joanne’s family meant the world to her.
She will be deeply missed by her husband, Basil, her five children—Katherine (Kent Brandmeyer) Hurley, Karen Hurley, Cheryl (Michael) Lavigne, Patrick (Josee Lefebvre) Hurley, and John (Nicole) Hurley—and her cherished niece, Myriam (Travis Allen) Doyon. Her laughter will echo in the hearts of her grandchildren: Keara (Dom), Ariana, Keillan, Anika Lavigne; Alex, Sarah, Isabelle Hurley; Adam and Ava Neiberger; Jack Hurley; and Summer Grant and Maya Allen.
Joanne was predeceased by her granddaughter Brianna Simone Lavigne. Joanne’s life was a testament to boundless curiosity, kindness, and courage. She honed her leadership skills at Marie Joseph Academy in Biddeford, Maine, and later moved to Trois-Rivières, Quebec.
She graduated from Teachers College in 1961 and began her teaching career in Ville St-Laurent, Quebec, where she met her soulmate, Basil. Never one to shy away from a new adventure, Joanne and Basil moved to Chibougamau, in Northern Quebec, in 1968 with their growing family in tow. The map they bought simply used an arrow to point to the top indicating where Chibougamau was located! There, Joanne made her mark by establishing the town’s first Kindergarten program, all while raising five children—a feat that would have made even the most seasoned multitasker blush! In 1976, the family moved to Sackville, NB, where Joanne, ever the trailblazer, founded a private, French language Kindergarten program that enriched the lives of hundreds of children.
She had an innate gift for nurturing young minds and an unwavering belief in the power of play. Her classrooms were filled with laughter and learning. A life-long learner in her own right, Joanne later completed her BA at St. Thomas University and resumed teaching Kindergarten after a family move to Fredericton, NB in 1988.
Throughout her life, Joanne always looked for ways to help those around her and to improve her community. She was a very active volunteer with the Catholic Women's League, the Fredericton Soup Kitchen, Pastoral Care at the DECH and much more. At home, the dinner table always had a seat for friends, new and old. Joanne adored spending time with friends and family. She loved to entertain, tell stories, and laugh—a laugh so infectious it brightened any room. In their retirement years, she and Basil travelled to visit their children and grandchildren, explored Europe and for many years, wintered in Florida with their 5th-wheel camper, making memories with their snowbird community. In the summer, she was an avid gardener, enjoyed long bike rides and time with family and friends on the patio.
Please join us in celebrating Joanne’s remarkable and joy-filled life on Saturday, December 28th, 2024, at Holy Family Parish, 1500 Hanwell Road, Fredericton, at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow at the Delta Hotel in the Bobak Room, where we’ll raise a toast to a life well-lived.
Arrangements are under the care of Bishops Funeral home on Woodstock Road. Joanne’s adventurous spirit, warm heart, and endless love will live on in all who had the privilege to know her. Memorial donations in Joanne's memory may be made to the Pine Grove Nursing Home Foundation or a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be made at www.bishopsfuneralhome.com