This site is a tribute to Joanne Elizabeth McCann, who was born in Harold Wood on September 14, 1982. She is much loved and will always be remembered.

FUNERAL EULOGY – 21 March 2018

Thank you all for coming here to be with us to say our goodbyes to our darling daughter Joanne.

Of course, we shouldn’t even be here today................

I said at Joanne and Paul’s wedding not quite 4 years ago, parents want the best for their daughter and Joanne was the best daughter a mother and father could have. She was a very caring, loving and loyal person and despite all the stress, anger and pain Joanne suffered for past the two and a half years, she managed to maintain those qualities.

Joanne was born 35 years ago on 14^th September 1982 in Harold Wood Hospital and we were blessed with a beautiful baby daughter, she was so special. We nurtured her and watched her grow up to become a beautiful woman. Linda would often say to her that she was beautiful inside and out and she truly was. She loved her family and was like a second mother to her baby brothers Christopher and Andrew and she looked out for them all of their lives. There was special bond with her devoted grand parents too.

Joanne loved teaching little ones during her 12 years as a teacher and always looked forward to having her own family. Her dream was quite simple, to be a wife and mother and that came true when she met Paul. They married in this church on 31^st May 2014 and had their beautiful daughter Annabel Rose on 26^th July 2015, so she did fulfil her dreams, even if it wasn’t for as long as we would have all loved it to be.

Joanne was always one to do what she wanted to, despite sometimes being advised to do otherwise. She wanted to go travelling in 2008 and decided to give up her teaching post at the time and set off with her friend Natalie around Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. During their trip they sky dived, walked a glacier, went horse riding and had many other adventures. I know they were not your typical backpackers and I don’t think they really did budget accommodation at any time during their 4 months away. They also managed to do lots of shopping and had to buy extra luggage to get it home.

Joanne wanted to buy her own car when she started teaching and said she would like a sports car, which we all thought wasn’t a good idea. But she said, I can, as she would, and bought a lovely silver MG which she enjoyed driving very much. She was so amazing in every way. She obviously loved children, loved music particularly Motown and jazz, going to concerts and musicals, dancing, watching tennis and rugby, visiting places, days and nights out with family and friends, Friday nights, all animals but especially our cat Jack and dog Molly, doing art, craft and cross stitch but she really really loved clothes, shoes and bags.

Her family and home meant everything to Joanne. She loved to be doing things for the house, garden and Annabel and buying special keepsakes for us all.

Joanne and Paul packed in as many activities, experiences, holidays and memories as they could for Annabel in her young life so far, even getting her to Disneyland Paris. We hope and pray that Annabel will, with all our help, remember all of these as happy times with her Mummy and Daddy when she is older. Joanne was never happier than when Annabel was doing things with her and enjoying the moment, whatever it was at the time.

Joanne was always a kind, thoughtful, generous and caring person. She was strong, determined, trusting and honest, always wanted things to be right and wouldn’t suffer any injustice. She made such a difference to many people’s lives.

She was so determined to be a bridesmaid at Chris and Sally’s wedding on 4^th January this year, but without having to wear a back brace so, with perseverance and nagging many hospital consultants she did just that, amazing.

Joanne had a very strong faith which did help her through many of the challenges she had to face and she always carried her rosary with her, everywhere.

We have been proud of Joanne’s bravery all her life, she was never frightened to challenge people or say what she believed to be just or fair, but the last few years took her bravery to another level.

Joanne bore the pain of her illness with her usual determination and dignity. Every day was a huge struggle in every way yet she still managed to sort mini-music, swimming, ballet lessons and play school for Annabel, family holidays, a mini-cruise and Center Parcs breaks, Christmas and birthday celebrations, days out and many other things for her family.

She never gave up hope that she could beat the illness, we even managed to take her to Lourdes to pray with her, but we just couldn’t overcome it.

Joanne didn’t see very many people other than close family in the past 6 months as she didn’t really want anyone else to see her so unwell and she was so busy doing things for Annabel and us all, apart from having to attend the many hospital appointments and treatments.

Joanne was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, sister and friend to many people. Our precious, darling daughter Joanne Elizabeth brought our family so much love and joy over the past 35 years. She will never be forgotten and she has left beautiful memories for us all to treasure.

Today we have to say goodbye to Joanne, but we want it to be a celebration of everything she managed to pack in to her life and how she touched people she knew. I am sure that if Joanne were standing here today her lovely smile would be there. She would be asking if we are all ok and looking after each other and telling us she is alright, but just has to get on with things, she was always a busy bee. All her family and friends were such an important part of her life and are truly privileged and blessed to have had such an amazing woman to share it with.

We will always remind ourselves of the many happy times we did have with Joanne over the years and look forward to being re-united when our own time comes. In the meantime, we will all miss her so much every day, in every way.