Aug 8, 1942 - Jan 20, 2018
Born in Vancouver to Stewart and Stella Fraser, Joan passed on after battling cancer for 21 months. Dancing with the angels now, Joan led an active life, enjoying travel, camping, triathlon, and above all, highland dancing. An avid teacher of highland dancing for over fifty years, she was a creative choreographer and the originator of the Tartan Pride Highland Dance Team which performed and travelled extensively.
Joan had countless friends in the Scottish community including Blackthorn, The Vancouver Police Pipe Band, The Delta Police Pipe Band, and the Canadian Highland Dancing community. She was a member of the Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance, the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing Judges Panel, ScotDance Canada, ScotDance B.C., the Fraser Valley Highland Dancing Association, and the B.C. Highland Dancing Association. Joan was also known for the hundreds of high quality kilts she made for customers across North America. Above all, Joan will always be remembered for her warm smile and for caring more for others than for her own welfare.
Joan leaves soul-mate Jim McWilliams and family Colin (Salimah), Khaliya, Keefe; Lachlan (Paula), Tulloch, Caoimhe; sister Marilyn Finlay, nephews Bradley, Jason; extended family, Martin (Lisa) Braeden, Liam; best friend Donna Cooper and God-child Corinne; and former husband Ed Murray.
At Joan's request, no service will be held, but a Celebration of Life will be held this Spring. Joan also requested that rather than memorializing her life with flowers she would prefer donations to the cancer societies.