Jo-Anne has died from ovarian cancer and heart failure. She is survived by John Goyder, husband, Nancy Ryan, sister, daughter Jennifer Wood, son Matthew Esper (Laurie), step-daughter Jennifer Goyder, step-son Chris Goyder (Rachel Alger), grandchildren Kai and Malia Wood, step-grandson Simon Petridis, and dog Jenny.  She was predeceased by her son Shawn, a brilliant cellist who died tragically in 1992 at age 18, a blow which saddened Jo-Anne for the rest of her life.

Jo-Anne was intelligent, witty, generous, loving, strong-willed and courageous. A gregarious person who made friends easily, she loved playing in the Oakville Symphony Orchestra.  She often said that it was one of the best moments in a not always happy childhood when an uncle gave her a cello. She played in the Lawrence Park Collegiate school orchestra in Toronto, and entered the music program at the University of Toronto.

She was a superbly skillful and creative cello teacher, working within the Suzuki method yet sure-footed in adapting the method to the needs of each student. She ran a studio in Kitchener-Waterloo for some 30 years beginning circa 1974, then for another decade in Oakville. Several of her students went on to their own careers in music.

Jo-Anne slipped away from life over several weeks at the Ian Anderson House hospice, receiving the best care imaginable. The family thanks all the skillful medical professionals who did their utmost for Jo-Anne, these past several years, with especial mention to Dr. Vaz. Jo-Anne will be greatly missed. We request that in lieu of flowers, any donations in her memory go to the hospice.

A celebration of life gathering will be held on Sunday September 17, 2023 in the lounge at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville from 6 pm – 8 pm.