Joanne (Danielson) Head

             In loving memory of our mother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend,  Joanne Head, nee Danielson who lost her courageous battle with rheumatoid arthritis, on Friday, September 12, 2025, at the Flin Flon General Hospital, Flin Flon, Manitoba, at the age of 67 years.

             Joanne is survived by her two children, Clint and Melinda; her grandchildren Chas, Ronnie, Cally, Eric, Nick, Aidan, Raven; great grandchildren Kyrey, Marcey, Devin and Bryley; as well as siblings Ken (Gaile), Janice, Debbie, Glorian (Todd), Richard (Candace); and her special friend Jean Danielson. 

Joanne was predeceased by her parents Richard and Elsie Danielson; husband Dennis Head; and her granddaughter Kaylen.

Joanne was born in Flin Flon, Manitoba, on Thursday, June 6, 1958 and made her home to Cranberry Portage where she often said “I’m in God’s country, why would I leave?” 

Joanne’s favourite past time was playing crib with her brothers and sisters and her nephews whom she’d often “kick their butts” on, and played canasta, her dice game, with her sisters.  And oh how she loved her bingo, she knew what was in the pot before anyone could take their winnings.  She would enjoy her morning cups of coffee, reading her daily bread and having a puff and listening to her loons as she would call it to get her day started. 

Joanne was a very strong person in her belief in God.  Sundays is when she would enjoy the family get-togethers and she was very determined to find out how the family was doing.  With her strong ethics as a child, she began working at the Otineka Mall printing off t-shirts, which led her to become a dental hygienist, but that wasn’t her calling.  She went back to school and got her degree in accounting, a milestone that only a few of us can accomplish.  Joanne was very determined to have things done her way and if it wasn’t done right, she’d make sure to let you know and we all knew that.  But at the end of the day, she would call and say I love you and hang up or give you a few days to calm down. 

Her commitment to friendship was and will always be the strongest bond she carried, just ask her best friend Daphne, as I’m sure there’s a lot of stories to be told.  Not to mention all her close friends and family who she had a close bond with, the one memory I’m sure she held so dear to heart is when she found her baby brother Richard.  She met the love of her life Dennis and was married in August of 1998 in Cranberry Portage. A love that held them together throughout so many adventures they did, whether it being at home or at the family and friends house, or just going up to the coffee shop for fries and gravy.  The family would like to thank all the nursing staff at Flin Flon General Hospital for the care given to Joanne during the last stages of her life.

Joanne Head was our Sister. She was a fire woman. Iskotew Iskwew.

Jo's strength knew no end. Even in her last days, she fought to be here and she fought to join her “hunny” in the world of Spirit.

Joanne loved all people. She was always willing to help where she could. A kind word, a statement of gratitude, a gentle smile, all of these things tell us of the person Joanne was in her truth.

She was a warrior. She never backed down from a fight. She met struggles head on, face to face. Looking at this beautiful tiny woman, you would not of known if you were not part of her heart. Joanne was a power not to be underestimated. We always knew our sister Jo to never be afraid to show love. She loved us as her sisters and brothers, her nieces and nephews, and many times as that one person holding your hand as you quietly cried.

Her faith in her Creator was strong. Anytime you needed or wanted to hear scripture from the Bible, Joanne would have the words ready, for they lived inside of her. She prayed for everyone. She shared her grace with all of us as she held her rosary tight to her heart.

Jo loved our culture as Cree people. She understood that her Metis lineage included Cree family and did her best to honour that. She participated in ceremony and always wanted to learn more and hear about the gifts our Ancestors gave us. She had those gifts in more ways than you know.

Joanne loved our brother, her husband, her “hunny”, with ALL of her being. We tried our best to hold her up and carried her when it was needed at the time of his passing to Spirit. She has been in mourning since the day his heart stopped beating.

We know that Joanne danced all the way into Dennis' arms when she left and ran up to her granddaughter to embrace her tightly when they met again.

Joanne will forever be held closely within us and every time we see her in our mind, she will hug our hearts. She will be as she was in life, walking in her Creators grace with her head held high and her voice full of joy.  We are eternally grateful you were our sister, beautiful one.

WAKE SERVICE

Sunday, September 21, 2025

7:00 pm—Midnight

Legion Hall, Cranberry Portage, Manitoba

FUNERAL SERVICE

Monday, September 22, 2025

1:00 pm

Legion Hall, Cranberry Portage, Manitoba

Officiant: Bob Hay

PALLBEARERS

Richard Danielson

Buggy Danielson

Don Danielson

Calvin Yakiwchuk

Glorian Chartrand

Donna Head

Cindy O’Nabigan

Darlene Senum

Charity Penner

HONORARY PALLBEARERS

All her close friends and family,

consider yourselves to be her honorary pallbearers.