PROVIDENCE

BY SISTER BARBARA THIFFAULT
Joan Wing was born on April 30,
1922 in Gananoque, Ontario,
the youngest of five children of
Elizabeth Corboy and
William J. Wing. She received her
education at St. John’s Separate
School and Gananoque High
School. In 1943 she graduated as a
registered nurse from St. Joseph’s
School of Nursing at Hotel Dieu
Hospital in Kingston. The following
year on August 15th she entered the
novitiate of the Sisters of Providence
of St. Vincent de Paul in
Kingston. At her First Profession
she received the name Sister Mary
Michael.
Following her First Profession in
1946, Sister went to St. Francis Hospital
in Smiths Falls as the Operating
Room Supervisor. In 1953 she did
post graduate studies in Operating
Room Nursing at Jersey City Medical
Centre in Jersey City and took a
course in Operating Room Technique
at the Regina General Hospital
in 1961. From 1959 until 1963
she was at Providence Hospital in
Moose Jaw as the Operating Room
Supervisor. From 1963 to 1982 Sister
Joan was at St. Vincent de Paul
Hospital in Brockville in the same
capacity. The following year she enjoyed
a sabbatical. During her
sabbatical year she lived
at St. Mary’s of the
Lake and took a
course in
Church History
at Queen’s
University. At
the same time
she attended
St. Lawrence
College and
took a course in
interior design
and decorating.
Then in 1984 she became
the Director of
Nursing Service at Providence
Manor and remained in this position
until 1991 when she retired from
nursing. St. Mary’s of the Lake was
her last mission until the Sisters vacated
the residence in April 1998.
During these years she experienced
much tearing down and building,
In Memoriam
19
moving and renovating. For her it
was a wonderful experience to see
the new and modern facilities replace
old and outdated buildings.
During all this time of restructuring
she met many dedicated hospital
staff, medical, clergy and lay
people willing and anxious
to help the Sisters
achieve the goal –
Providence at work
in our lives.
In 1998 Sister Joan
became the care
giver and companion
for her sister,
Mary, who lived in
the country west of
Gananoque. Sister
lived with Mary until
Mary’s death on July 20,
2003. It was at this time that Sister
Joan took up residence at Providence
Motherhouse.
Sister Joan went home to her loving
God very unexpectedly on Tuesday,
August 23, 2011.
Sister Joan is predeceased by her
parents, her brothers, Oliver David
and John William and by her sisters,
Mary Wing and Elizabeth Deir. She
will be fondly remembered by her
nieces, nephews, and friends and by
the members of her religious congregation.
The Mass of Christian
Burial, held in the Chapel of Mary
Mother of Compassion, Providence
Motherhouse on August 26, was
presided over by Friar Ed Debono,
OFM Conv. The homilist was Rev.
Michael Reed.
Sister Joan Wing
April 30, 1922 — August 23, 2011