Joan Bacquie

Joan (Siobhan Gabrielle) Dowling Conway Bacquie  1926 - 2022

Joan died peacefully at home on April 20, 2022 with Michael, her devoted husband of 38 years, by her side. It will be the first and last time she didn’t have an opinion on a matter.

She is survived by her completely well-adjusted children Shannon Conway (Ruth Silbert), Fiona Conway (Michael Nolan), Gavin Conway (Clara Mackay), Ray Bacquie and Heather Bacquie. Joan was a devoted Nana to her perfect grandchildren who could do no wrong, Rachael Conway, Conor Conway (Kim Conway), Marc Sharrett (Silvia Lulka), Major Patrick Nolan (Sarah Fallis), Gabriel Nolan (Elise Pennington) and Emilie Nolan. Joan was over the moon to become a great-grandmother to Archie Conway in 2020, even though she begged for more.

We believe Joan was born August, 1926 (but can’t be sure because she loved a little mystery) in Dublin as the youngest of nine. She loved being the baby, but in the end, was sad to have outlived them all. In 1950, after a run-in on the River Liffey, she married Dr. Donal Conway. Thanks to the British Medical Corps, they traveled the world, taking up residence in Libya, Malta, and countless locations across England. In 1966, in response to the Canadian government’s call for doctors, the family emigrated to Saskatchewan, Canada. At risk of going absolutely blind from boredom Joan became active in the Saskatchewan literary movement, befriending W.O. Mitchell and becoming a founding member of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild.

In 1982, Joan moved to Ottawa, where she met Mike while playing the rapturous game of bridge. They adored one another, and Mike happily assumed the role of Grappoo to the growing gaggle of grandchildren.

In her third act, Joan started painting again. Before long she was selling paintings and taking commissions. Her naïve, folk style depicted various scenes which often hid the names of her loved ones, and was once adapted into a stamp used across Canada.

She loved occasionally playing the lottery, and always felt that “this was the one,” but those she leaves behind are the real winners. To call Joan a character would be the understatement of the century. She had an infectious zest for life that fueled an unshakeable optimism. Joan was beautiful, erudite, irreverent, and one-of-a-kind in every sense.