Dear Harkness Family,
Please accept our Giacomelli family's most sincere condolences on the recent passing of Joan.
Our mother Mary and father Mario, were great friends and teachers with Joan and Bob for many many years in Hamilton. They had many group visits together, teas, and theatre and local outings together with a very tight knit group of other teacher-couples. We may even have some photos of those frequent get-togethers. Lots of laughing and jibbing and reminiscing for sure.
As kids we heard of the great respect our parents had for both Joan and Bob, and they always looked forward to photos and slides and stories of their well-planned travels. And we learned that Bob was a most detailed pre-planner. Joan of course had a more free-wheeling spirit.
We also had the pleasure of enjoying Joan's fantastic baking. Maybe that is why you chose that beautiful photo you included here above. A well appointed working kitchen with floured rolling pin and a scrumptious looking pie.
In particular her chocolate cake was a favourite. Knowing that there were some chocolate cake lovers at our home, Joan always made sure Mary&Mario came home with a piece or two. Although, many times we asked for the recipe, Joan was very discrete and protective.
We wonder now, whether you may consider honouring us with that recipe so that we may attempt to do Joan right and share our fondest memories while we try to bake and enjoy it again in her name.
Though maybe that recipe was not written down somewhere but rather ingrained her own memory. That too is another loss for sure.
Please know that Joan and Bob were kind and very good friends for a long long time to many of their colleagues that they met along the way. Our parents were blessed to share and receive that friendship and we four children of Mary&Mario were given prime examples of how important and vitalizing life-long commitments could be.
So please know that Joan and Bob's lives are still being remembered and respected by the next generation and more.
Our most sincere and best regards to all of your family at this most difficult time.
Marc, Lorne, Michelle and Denise for the Giacomelli Family
Lorne
(Joan's chocolate cake lover)
lornegiacomelli@yahoo.ca
