Joan (Pydee) Prokopow

Prokopow, Joan Norma (Née Pydee)

10 June 1945 – 7 November 2023

Very early on Tuesday, the 7th of November, Joan lost her battle with the infections that plagued her for the past eight and a half months.

Joan was born in Winnipeg on the 10th of June, 1945, to William (Bill) and Lydia (née Machnauer) Pydee. Mother Lydia died of cancer when Joan was six years old, something that affected her outlook for the rest of her life, especially when her children were near that age. Shortly after mother Lydia died, Grandma Magner (Machnauer) moved in and helped Bill raise his two children until, when Joan was 12, Bill married Joyce Oliver (née Dakin). Joan now had a brand new step-mother and a little sister, Susan, whom Bill later adopted.

After Joan graduated from Transcona Collegiate, she earned two degrees from the University of Manitoba: Bachelor of Home Economics and Bachelor of Education.

She will be remembered by many as a Past Honoured Queen, International Order of Job’s Daughters, Bethel No. 1.

Joan started teaching while in high school, giving accordion lessons at the Kent Music Studio in Winnipeg. She moved to The Pas and began her academic teaching career in the Fall of 1969 as a junior high English teacher and followed that with courses in Home Economics (Nutrition and Textiles – a.k.a. cooking and sewing). Later, Joan introduced the Family Studies programme at MBCI and was highly instrumental in the introduction, and running, of a daycare in the high school that enabled young mothers to continue their high school studies. The daycare has evolved into what is now called “Little Dreamers”. Joan retired from teaching in 2000.

Joan took seven years off from teaching to be a stay-at-home mum to her two pre-school boys. As her boys were growing up, she became involved with their activities, none more so than with the competitive swim club in town, The Pas Roadrunners, where she progressed from volunteer to meet-manager to chairperson.

Joan learned to swim through the Red Cross swimming program – her son Allan was the instructor. She also took a CPR course and refresher course, both instructed by Allan as well. Joan loved to swim and did so at her cabin at Rocky Lake and then at home when she moved to Clearwater Lake. She spent many hours in the Winton Pool until, for health reasons, she was no longer able to do so. The Pas Community Choir was also one of her interests. Joan became a member and then directed it for many years and later sang with the Aurora Chorus. She loved to sew, knit, crochet, and do needlepoint; at least until failing health forced her to give up one after another. Joan loved watching Canadian football games, especially the Blue Bombers. Dancing, swimming, curling were also programmes she enjoyed. Couldn’t get her away from the TV while the Olympics were on.

Joan’s faith was especially important to her. She was a member of Westminster United Church ever since moving to The Pas. As time progressed, the congregation dwindled to a point where they could no longer support a minister. Joan completed the requisite courses and became one of two “Licenced Lay Worship Leaders” in 2010 and later a “Sacraments Elder”. She often led Sunday Service, baptized babies, conducted funerals (including her mother Joyce’s), and married one couple – her son Roger and his second wife, Andrea.

Joan is survived by her husband of 53 years, Joe, son Roger (Andrea Whaley), daughter-in-law Trina, brother Ken Pydee (Razeah), sister Susan Williams (Ted), and her grandchildren: Kamryn, Ainsley, Jackson, Brooke, and Max. She was pre-deceased by her son Allan (Trina, née Telfer) and daughter-in-law Kari (née Friesen), Roger’s first wife.

The family thanks the multitude of doctors, nurses, health-care aides, and support staff from Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, St. Anthony’s Hospital and St. Paul’s Residence in The Pas. You have made a difference in Joan’s over eight month-long journey.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Pas Hospital Auxiliary or your favourite charity.

Cremation has taken place in accordance with Joan’s wishes. There will be no service at the present time. A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring.