Josephine Willsie

At Sakura House, Woodstock, on September 28th, Josephine "Joan" Anne Willsie (Crawford) of Woodstock in her 96th year, predeceased by her husband Almon, who passed in 2005. Mom was the beloved sister of Bill Crawford of Lindsay and was the dear mother of Janet McMullen (Marty), John, David (Pam), the late Donald (2009), and Andy. She will always be the loved and celebrated grandmother of Emily, Andrew, Gwen, Jane, Cavan, Graham and Lukas, and the adored “GG” of great-grandson Grady.

Mom earned her B.A. at University of Toronto in 1951 and soon began teaching English and French at Norwich District High School. Following her marriage in 1954, she became a homemaker and mother, but her call to teaching was nowhere near its end. That calling and her love of music came together, and she taught piano to innumerable students over the course of the next fifty years, while accompanying young musicians of all types for Conservatory exams, but particularly during the Rotary Music Festival. We'd see her only for brief moments when she would race home to put a meal on our table. Mom was a musician. She was the pianist for the Woodstock Choralaires for fifteen years. We keenly missed her cooking when she toured Europe in that capacity. She was President of Music Club, played as a volunteer in the Chapel of Woodstock General, and the number of weddings and funerals she played for would be difficult to estimate.

Mom was a devout, active member of Knox Presbyterian Church for more than seventy years. She was juniour choir leader, CGIT leader, a member of WMS, Session, of numerous committees and, of course, was always on call to be the backup organist, a role she filled there as well as for numerous congregations in the larger church community.

Her contributions extended well beyond her church and music. She canvassed for The Canadian Cancer Society for more than thirty years, was active with Meals on Wheels, was deeply committed to Telecare, and acted as Returning Officer in numerous elections.

She was immovable in her desire to remain in her home on Admiral Street and lived there for sixty-three years.

Mom was tireless but is now resting. While we grieve her passing, we celebrate her life and will remember her with love, admiration and gratitude.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sakura House.

Visitation will take place on Saturday October 12, 2024 from 11 am - 11:45 pm, followed by a Funeral Service at 12 noon held at  Knox Presbyterian Church (59 Riddell St.) Burial will take place a Presbyterian Cemetery, Woodstock.

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