BUCK: Joan (Samuel)
A seemingly unquenchable flame has been extinguished. Joan Buck (Samuel), 88, has died in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Born in Cwmdare, Wales, she and her family emigrated to Gadsby, Alberta, Canada when she was 3 years old. She grew up on the prairies and they always remained close to her heart. Joan--"Joey" to her friends--served in the RCAF in WWII, where she met her future husband, Dr. Conrad (Gus) Buck. They and their 7 children eventually settled in Mt. Gretna P.A. in 1960. Dr. Buck died in 1963. As a widow, she made great sacrifices for her children's welfare. Cheerful, fiercely independent, and a gifted singer with a flair for the dramatic, Joan was filled with boundless energy. Well into her 80's, she was still raking her own leaves and splitting her own wood. At 86, she made a near miraculous recovery from a series of health crises and was able to return to her beloved Mount Gretna home for another 2 years with the devoted help of her companion of 40 years, Don Frymyer. In February 2011, following a fall, she moved to Canada to be closer to several of her children. She died suddenly and peacefully on Saturday, May 14, 2011 with daughter Connie, Connie's husband, Mike, and granddaughter Olivia at her side. She will be greatly missed by her children, Judy, Barbara, David, Connie, Jenny, Cameron and Sheilagh; their spouses; her 11 wonderful
grandchildren; and her 6 adorable great-grandchildren. Her spark and her indomitable spirit will be missed by all whose lives she touched. Services will be held at the Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West (one block east of Kerr, 905-844-2600), Oakville on Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 1pm. A memorial service is pending in Mount Gretna P.A. this summer.