Joanne Elizabeth was welcomed into the world by parents Elmore “Red” and Betty Craddock on March 29, 1956, in Walkerton. “Little Bit”, as her Dad lovingly called her, joined older siblings Jim, Judy, John, Janis, and Jeff, and shortly after Joanne, came Joyce, Jerry, June, Jacqueline, Joel, and Jay. The Craddock family lived on a mixed farm on the 10th of Brant, and Joanne was a farm kid at heart. She would often be found riding their pet pony Rusty bareback or climbing the beams in the barn. Joanne started school at the one-room schoolhouse in Eden Grove and she and her siblings would walk their country road three miles to and from school every day, giving her the opportunity to wander the fields and explore the woods along the way, stopping in to visit neighbours, or catching a ride home with the mailman. Once Brant Central School was built in Walkerton, she went there until attending high school at Walkerton District Secondary School.
When Joanne was only sixteen, her father passed away, and shortly after, her mom sold the farm and the family moved to Paisley. Joanne worked in the local restaurant that her brother Jim & his wife Ev owned and lived on the third floor with her sister Judy. Joanne worked several jobs including hairdressing, waitressing and held a position at Brucelea Haven as a nurse’s aide before she began her career at Bruce Power in 1990. She began in civil maintenance and held many roles there including Rad-tech, Green-man and Instructor, before finishing in an office position assigning lockers. She retired in 2014.
In April of 1978, Joanne’s life changed in the best way possible with the birth of her daughter and best friend Mandi. Throughout the years, life, and the roads they travelled gifted them an unbreakable bond. From the day Mandi was born, she was the centre of her life and the two were inseparable. Having the kind of lifelong mother-daughter relationship many wish for, as a wee girl sitting on her Mom’s knee, or a country star hopeful recording in Nashville, Mandi never left Joanne’s side. Facing life’s struggles head on, realizing sought after dreams or just working in the yard, you would rarely find one without the other. Joanne’s unwavering support of her daughter’s hopes and dreams began early and has continued throughout their lives as Mandi pursued her careers in singing, photography and real estate.
In 2001, Joanne found the perfect place to call home and she and Mandi moved back to Paisley after living in Port Elgin for Mandi’s high school years. She began to put her many skills and talents to work, lovingly renovating the house into her home. She enjoyed refinishing furniture and had several beautiful hutches and cabinets in her home that she restored into something exquisite after others almost threw them away. Her home and property are beautiful today because of her tenacity, hard work, and dedication. Always with a workshop, when she wasn’t creating pieces for the house, she was fixing. Fixing this or that, Joanne didn’t much believe in throwing things away and with her own ingenuity, kept most things running well beyond their time. The outside of her home is just as magnificent as the inside and Joanne took a lot of pride in her flower and vegetable gardens, keeping the grounds looking more like a nature retreat than a yard. Whether hands in the dirt, kayaking or walking her beloved Tucker along the river trails, Joanne loved being surrounded by nature and always found a place, a tree, a smell, or sound that reminded her of being on the farm as a kid.
Joanne loved the fall when you could still feel the last warmth of summer give way to the beautiful colours of the changing leaves. She equally enjoyed the wholesome community heritage of the Paisley Fall Fair and a leisurely stroll through the Palace exhibits followed by an afternoon of watching the horses. As the months turned cooler, she would take to decorating her home for Christmas. By the time the Santa Claus parade came to town, Joanne’s home looked like a beautiful Christmas wonderland and Mandi often joked with her that it “looked like Christmas threw up in the house”.
A salt of the earth woman, Joanne lived a healthy and holistic lifestyle, and was always cooking, canning, and baking from scratch… and she loved a good margarita! Embracing her old soul and pioneer spirit, the little TV Joanne watched was dedicated to her favourites; When Calls the Heart, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and old westerns like Bonanza, as well as old school comedians like Foster Brooks… and she loved a classic Bugs Bunny cartoon because, as she often told Mandi, it reminded her of being a kid. Her musical tastes reflected the many facets of her life and she enjoyed everything from a good ole country song to 70s folk and classic rock… but her favourite singer by far, was Mandi and she never missed a show or a chance to tell you so.
Joanne always had a special place in her heart for her pets. Her life long she was never without a horse, a pup or a cat and her love for animals was punctuated by annual donations to the local shelters & rescues. Her philanthropic efforts also often spilled over to her community when Joanne gave to the local foodbank and Grey Bruce Women’s House. Over the years, Joanne extended her compassion and herself to others in need of a lift through her delicious baking and/or her sound, honest advice. With a kind and loving heart, Joanne was a generous and genuine spirit whose sense of humour, sharp wit and charm touched nearly every life she met. She was caring and supportive, hardworking, and resilient; strong and independent with a thick skin and a heart of gold…. and she didn’t take crap from anyone. Joanne enjoyed being at home and being surrounded by Mandi, her pets, and her family, Sadly, Joanne passed away unexpectedly at Southampton Hospital, on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in her 69th year. She will forever be loved and missed…
Loving and proud mother of Mandi Craddock of Paisley. Dear sister of Jim Sr. (Eveline) of Paisley, Judy Kraemer of Paisley, Jeff (Kathy) of Devon, Alberta, Joyce Craddock (Dennis McKeeman) of Paisley, Jerry (Barb) of Kitchener, June Craddock of Paisley, Jacqueline Craddock of Paisley, and Jay (Bev) of Brussels, and sister-in-law of Audrey Craddock of Pinkerton. She will be missed by many nieces and nephews. Joanne is now reunited with her sister Janis Wrightson, her brothers John and Joel, her parents Elmore “Red” and Betty (Carley) Craddock, and all of her loveable furkids, including her special boy Tucker.
A celebration of Joanne’s life will be held at Riverside Palace, 293 James St, Paisley, on Sunday, May 5, 2024, from 1 – 4 p.m. with words of remembrance shared at 2 p.m. Private inurnment in Douglas Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Grey Bruce Animal Shelter would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
So sorry, Mandi and all the Craddock family. This is such a difficult experience for you all.
Mandi….Our Sincere Condolences on the passing of your Mother…We still have fond memories of our Nashville trip with you and your Mom on our bus….
May the memories live on in your heart!
Hugs,
Bob & Dale Kelly
My Condolences to Joanne’s Daughter Mandi and Family
Sincere sympathy on the passing of your Mom Mandi. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Our condolences to Jim and Ev and the Craddock Family. So sorry for your loss.
Mandy, I am thinking of you and your family and wish you courage and strength in you loss.
Sorry to hear of your loss Mandi.
I had the opportunity to work with Joanne for some time at Bruce Power; she was always ready to make you laugh, or a quick chat; Mandi you were always her top priority. Cherish your memories, they will always be a spot in your heart …
Mandi & Craddock Family
A loss so great will take a long time before any kind of what may resemble normal returns. Our hearts go out to you all today, tomorrow and all the days that follow as you grieve. May all the wonderful memories you share remind you of how very special she was and guide you as you heal through all the tears, the laughter you shared and the undeniable love and pride she carried.
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you all.
Petrik Family
My deepest sympathy To Mandy and the Craddock Family.
…Another great lady taken way to young. RIP my friend….
Sincere condolences Mandy on the loss of your mom. Deepest sympathy to all her brothers and sisters. Stewart and Olive Dudgeon
Condolences to her whole family. Hugs to you all.
My deepest condolences to the whole family. I have known Joanne since we were teens and her loss is a great one. REST IN PEACE
Our deepest sympathies on the passing of Joanne. She was such a bright light, full of laughter and fun. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Sorry to hear of your loss.. my Deepest condolences to you.
To the Craddock family > My sincere condolences. Joanne will be certainly missed by many. I have many fond memories of working with Joanne at Bruce Power. She was a great Lady. Always looked forward to her smile and wave as Mandi and her would walk by with their dogs. Rest in peace Joanne.
So sorry for your loss Mandi. Thinking of you.
So sorry for your loss. Condolences to the family
So sorry for your loss of your dear Mom, Mandi, to the Craddock family sincere sympathy.
May all your wonderful memories help you through this time of loss.
Sincerely,
Sherry and Roger Caldwell
Tiffany and Brent Henhoeffer
Mandi, and the Craddock family. So sorry for your loss.
Dear Mandi and the Craddock family, our sincere sympathy in the passing of your Mom and sister. She will be missed and may the memories of the times together help at this difficult time.
We are so sorry for your loss. Our hearts go out to you and your family.
So sorry for your loss.. Bessie Robinson
Mandi, my sincere condolences to you and the family.
You have my deepest sympathy, xo
Mandi, and the Craddock family, I was so very sorry and saddened to hear of Joanne’s passing. I send my deepest condolence’s to you all. I have many fond memories of growing up together. She will always hold a special place in my heart.
Our heart goes out to you, Mandi, and your family at this sad time. Cherish all your memories of good times with your Mom. Sincere condolences, Susan and Paul
Mandi, we are so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. Please accept our deepest condolences.
Mandy. Our sincere condolences with the loss of your Mom. Joanne was a fun and lovely person. Stuart & I both worked with her. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
My thoughts are with you Mandi, and the Craddock family. It was nice to talk to your Mom at your recent concert in Port a few weeks ago. You were her world….hugs.
Mandi & The Craddock family
Very sorry to hear of your moms passing. Sincere sympathy.
So sorry for your loss Mandi, thinking of you in this difficult time.
So sorry for your loss.
My sincere condolences.
So sorry to hear of Joannes passing. I haven’t seen her in years but remember fondly some good laughs we had together. She was a great person with such a strong independent spirit. My condolences to you Mandi, you were her everything.
Dear Mandi. Our thoughts are with you in this time of deep sorrow. Your Mom will be on your shoulder to help get you through the next difficult weeks. She was your champion and will be always.
May God bless and comfort you. ❤️🙏 Paul and Heather
Our very deepest sympathy, Mandi, on the passing of your beloved Mom. We send our condolences to the whole Craddock Family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I’m shocked and in disbelief! My heart goes out to you Mandi. Your Mom was so proud of you! Hold on to your memories and remember the good times. I just lost my brother so I know what you are going through! I’m the last one in my family and miss him so much as I know you will miss your Mom. ❤️
Sorry to hear of your Moms passing – Thinking of you
Very Sorry to hear about your Mom. Keeping you in our Prayers.
So sorry for your loss Mandi and all of the Craddock Family.
She will surely be missed in the neighborhood.
Mandi I am so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. Condolences to you and all the Craddock family. Hugs💞
Our deepest sympathies are extended to Mandi in the loss of her precious mom! ❤️ Also to all Joanne’s brothers and sisters, she will definitely be missed !
Words cannot express the loss your family must feel. You are in our thoughts
We are very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Jim, my deepest sympathy to you and the entire Craddock family.
Very sorry for your loss. Sending our deepest condolences.
Very sorry for your loss Mandi. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
So sorry for your loss. Joanne will be missed.
Mandi, I am so very sorry for you loss. Sending our condolences.