Obituary of Joan Marie Froland

Joan Marie was born on October 14, 1942 to Julian "Josh" and Velma Sather. She attended school in Czar for Grades 1 to 9 before going to Hughenden central High for Grades 10 to 12. Joan graduated in June 1961. In September 1961, Joan entered the Misericordia School of Nursing. At that time, the School of Nursing provided all the books, uniforms, and room and board free of charge to the students. The students’ parents were responsible for nylons, shoes, and the occasional bus ticket home for out-of-town students. Joan’s first job after graduating was at the Provost Municipal Hospital. In 1968, Joan worked as a Public Health Nurse in Biggar, Saskatchewan. Joan continued to nurse after her marriage to Bud Froland. In 1979, Joan started Home Care. She was the first Home Care Nurse in the M. D. of Provost. Joan retired from Home Care on June 30, 2002. In October 2006, she returned, at Doctor Erasmus’ request, to help start the Primary Care Program. Joan worked as the first Primary Health Care Registered Nurse in the Provost Medical Centre until December 2013. She retired for a second time, deciding that this was enough “firsts” in her life. Joan came to know her husband, Bud, when he came to work for Sam and Frank Froland. Joan thought Bud was “gorgeous.” Their mutual love of music cemented the relationship. Joan and Bud dated for eight years before they were married on July 5, 1969 at the Lutheran Church in Biggar, Saskatchewan. Following their marriage, Joan and Bud moved a second house onto the homestead. It was here that they built their life together. Joan and Bud were blessed with two sons, Todd and Wade. The family was very close. Joan made sure the boys went to church and Sunday school. The family always said grace before meals and prayers before bed, a practice that Todd and Wade continue. Joan was a loving, humble, kind, considerate woman who cared deeply about her family, her friends, and her community. Joan had a strong faith and loved her church family. She was not pushy about her faith. While she would talk about her faith with her family and those who wanted to discuss their faith with her, Joan’s was more a lived faith than a talked faith. It was Joan’s faith that gave her strength, hope, and courage when Bud, Todd, and she were diagnosed with cancer. She prayed for God to walk with her each time cancer came calling. Joan kept the words Bud told her in her heart: “Remember. You keep your faith and you keep your hope.” That is what Joan did throughout the years since Bud’s death. On Tuesday, March 8, 2022 Joan was admitted to the Provost Hospital. Family and close friends were able to spend time with Joan over the next few days. During her last hours here on earth, Stacy heard Joan say, “Bud,” “I want to go home,” and “Jesus showed me his face.” Early Sunday morning, Joan peacefully went to be with the God who had sustained her and her family throughout her life. She will be dearly missed by her sons, Todd and Wade (Stacy); her granddaughter Freyja Froland; her step- grandsons James, Freddy, Matthew, and Kalan Bond; her brother Dave Sather; her niece Candice (Steve) Terrio; her great-niece Zoe Terrio; her dear friend Carole Melin; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Joan was predeceased by her beloved husband Bud; parents, Josh and Velma Sather; father and mother in law, Ingvold and Thea Froland; and her brothers and sisters in law, Pearl Froland, Selma (George) Needham, Thelma (Don) Hyatt, Clarence Froland, Lester (Elsie) Froland, Bernice (Tom) Applegate, Pete (Sally) Froland, and Joan (Ray) Hoff. A funeral service to honour Joan will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at the Czar Culture & Rec. Centre in Czar, Alberta with Pastor Eleanor Ness officiating. A private family interment will follow at the Sardis Lutheran Cemetery.