Joanne Twist

Joanne Twist

(1946 – 2023)

(nee   Saskoley, formerly Murray)

On January 20, we said goodbye to Joanne.

She loved people, her community, and most of all her family.  She will remain forever in our hearts.

The family she left behind, and loved so dearly, includes her husband John, her children Jennifer Murray (Ryan), Jeffrey Murray (Sarah), and Allison Colpitts (Dennis), and her very special grandchildren Leyton and Holden (Colpitts), Wilson and Andrew (Murray).  She is also survived by her brothers Mark Saskoley(Tommy) and Will Saskoley(Jan), niece and nephew Erin and Shayne.  She was predeceased by her sister Beverly.

Joanne was born in Dryden, and always celebrated her Northwestern Ontario roots, to the point where moving to Muskoka was, for her, a reconnection with those roots. The rock outcroppings, the evergreens, and the lakes were her happy place.

She was a dedicated and passionate educator.  Her skills and her commitment led her to administrative positions with the Peel Board, from where she eventually retired.

Her community involvement was one of her outstanding achievements, and this became particularly true when she moved to Muskoka.  The breadth of her volunteer work was truly amazing, and culminated in her being recognized by her community. She was truly humbled to be selected by Rotary to be a Paul Harris Fellow, and then by the town as Gravenhurst Senior of the year in 2021.

Joanne never stopped trying to right a wrong or provide support to someone in need. To many she was the epitome of true compassion.  Her longtime friends would say that she touched their lives with her love, her openness, her insights, and her unwavering support.

Her love of entertaining and cooking, her penchant for facilitating so many social connections, and her renowned Canada Day parties, were a source of pure joy.

We will be celebrating Joanne’s life on February 10, 2023, in the Trillium Court at the Gravenhurst Opera House, from 1 to 3.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that Joanne be remembered by donations to Mind-Aid Muskoka,  or to any organization that supports women and the vulnerable in our community.