Joanne Foster

Joanne Bernice (TRIBE) Foster

April 8, 1957 – May 1, 2021

“The Queen of Everything” was a Warrior Woman who overcame multiple health challenges from childhood until the end of her many adventures.  Raised in Ridgetown, Ontario, Jo graduated from St. Clair College and worked at the Southwestern Regional Centre until the closure.  She worked in many OPSEU positions after that and retired from work she thoroughly enjoyed with her colleagues at ODSP in Chatham.

Jo loved owning her little home in Blenheim.  Those who’ve known her over the decades will remember her treehouse, hammocks, orange shutters (now pink!), multiple home renovations and her many gardening plans.  Jo was a ‘maker’ at heart and created bagels, cheesecakes, liqueurs, and canning gifts throughout the years that alternated with amazing hand-crafted gifts.   She obtained her motorcycle license when she was 41 and loved riding the roads with her buddies and fun camping vacations with Tony.  She even introduced her mom and dad to Friday the 13^th events in Port Dover.  When she endured a below knee amputation, Jo bought a motorcycle with a side-car so that she could keep on riding. She was one-of-a-kind.

Joanne was pre-deceased by parents, Fred (2018) and Hazel (2019).  She is survived by her brother, Kevin Tribe and sister-in-law, Kathy (Quigley).  She treasured her relationship with their children:  Laura (Josh), Eric (Zoë) and Alex (Sara).  She will be dearly missed by her sister, Terry Tribe.  Jo is also survived by extended family members.  She referred to her special friend, Tony Vercouteren, as “my MacGyver Man”.  Joanne had many friends-who-are-family:  You know who you are – there are no words to thank you for the support and assistance you shared over the years that helped her stay at home.  You have joyful memories and countless moments of laughter that will brighten your years; remember her with joy — she would like that.

The pandemic means “no funeral service”, but you’re invited to celebrate Joanne where you live.  She loved humour and always shared her sense of “ha-ha”, especially when facing a new health concern.  Feel free to crank up Tim McGraw’s song: “Live Like You Were Dying”, a mantra by which Joanne lived.

And then there’s this, which Jo lived fully: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO, what a ride!”

If you wish, donations can be made to either the Chatham-Kent Hospice https://www.chathamkenthospice.com/donate/ or to CKHA https://ckhaf.ca/donate/ in Jo’s memory.