Our Deepest Condolences

We are saddened to share the news that Joan Ridge passed away peacefully at Etobicoke General Hospital on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at the age of 86. Joan was a life-long member of Community of Christ and had long been very active in the Toronto Congregation. 

Joan was born, the 5th of 6 daughters, to Florence and Thomas Campbell, on February 14th, 1937, and was raised in Fergus, Ontario, where she learned to swim, culminating in a Canadian Swimming & Diving Championship in 1953.

In 1957, Joan met the love of her life, the late Frank Gerald Ridge (Jerry) and even though following their first blind date, she thought, “he's a nice man, but if he ever tried to kiss me, I’d just die”, she soon changed her mind and within a year they were married (a marriage that lasted 63 years, until Jerry passed) and proceeded to have 4 children in the next 6 years. Joan was the loving mother of John, Jane, Gerald (Leslie) and Joan-Marie Martino (Joe).
 
In their later years, Joan & Jerry started their worldwide travels, that included cruises to Alaska, the Mediterranean & Asia. Their winters were spent at their Treasure Island, Florida condominium, Key Capri and throughout their travels they gathered many lifetime friends, who loved and admired them
Grandma was dearly loved by her grandchildren, David and Patricia, Jacquelyn, Samantha and Racquel, Joey and Michael and Joey's wife, Stefanie, and their sons, Domenico and Stefano, Joan's great grandchildren.

Joan’s funeral was held on March 7th and was attended by friend and fellow congregant Joyce Dawson. Joan is remembered and loved by members of the congregation and others across Canada whose lives she touched.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at, www.kanejerrettnorthyork.ca for the Ridge family.

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