JOAN MARIE DRUM

JOAN MARIE DRUM

DRUM, JOAN MARIE (nee O’BRIEN) July 18, 1935 – May 22, 2021 It is with great sadness that the family of Joan Drum announces her passing. Predeceased by her loving husband of 58 years, Joseph Drum (December 29, 2016). Joan is survived by her four children Peter, Paul (Kate), Joanne and Carolyn (Chris).

She was a beloved grandma to Sinead, Dillon and Neil. She will be missed by the extended Drum and O’Brien families, as well as by members of Corpus Christi Church, and by former neighbours on Highcroft Road where she and Joe lived from 1961 to 2017. Joan was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and spent some of her fondly remembered childhood years in Orillia, Ontario. Later, she moved to Toronto where she attended and graduated from Notre Dame High School where she met many lifelong friends. Joan and Joe met at the St. Brigid’s Young People’s Club and they were married in 1958. She was a wonderfully loving and supportive mother for her four children, an incredible homemaker and cook, known for her big family dinners, fruit relish each fall and many baked goods. Joan was a Teacher with the Toronto Catholic District School Board for many years. 

She was an active member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church for 60 years. At various times she was a member of the parish council and the CWL, as well as a teacher of Catechism classes for children and a volunteer for ShareLife. She loved going to parish dances with Joe and friends. She volunteered for the Canadian Cancer Society for many years. She liked to travel and, especially during their retirement years, Joan and Joe experienced many wonderful vacations together. One of their regularly scheduled trips was the simple pleasure of enjoying the fall colours for a week in Ontario and surrounding regions in early October to mark their wedding anniversary. Since 2017, Joan had been living at Revera Leaside.

The family would like to thank all of the staff there for her excellent care, especially during this most recent difficult year helping protect her from COVID-19. While in recent years Joan had extremely limited mobility, her memory and sense of humour remained intact. It was only a very brief and sudden illness that took her from us. The family would like to thank the staff at the Michael Garron Hospital for their excellent care and most appreciated kindness in that final day. Due to current COVID-19, restrictions, there will be no visitations.

A funeral mass will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church on Saturday, May 29th but attendance will be limited to immediate family members. Joan will be laid to rest next to Joe in Resthaven Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Lung Association of Canada.