Elizabeth "Joan" (Garbarino) Hartnett

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of our beloved wife and mother, Elizabeth “Joan” Hartnett, at the age of 83. Mom passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family, with a view of her cherished gardens and Trout Lake.

Joan was the loving wife of Donald “John” Hartnett for 60 wonderful years. She was the devoted mother of Pamela, Jamie (Kelleigh) and Erin. Her grandchildren – Eva and Peyton Thomson, Mikayla and Teagan Hartnett, and Ty and Darian Clarke – were her most treasured joys. She will be deeply missed by her dear friend of 71 years, Mary MacKillop,   We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Michelle Carriere for her many years of help in maintaining Mom’s beautiful gardens, which she loved dearly and which will not be the same without her. And to Lori Pouliot, we are eternally grateful for the dignified and gentle care you provided Mom during her brief time at home.

Mom was predeceased by her parents, Henry and Evelyn Garbarino, and her sister, Ann Garbarino.

Joan was a remarkable athlete during her high school years at BCI in Brantford, excelling in basketball, volleyball, track, and softball. Her athletic prowess was recognized in grade 9 when she received the Jack of all Jacks award. This love of sports was passed down to her three children, and she remained an avid fan of everything from tennis to the CFL, especially cheering for the Blue Bombers and the Allouettes. Mom was our greatest supporter, traveling far and wide to cheer us on at all our sporting events. We are so grateful for her unwavering support of our athletic pursuits. This cheerleading spirit continued with her grandchildren, as she could always be seen enthusiastically supporting them from the sidelines of arenas and fields. Joan also dedicated her time as an NDA and Ladies League volleyball official for many years, a role she truly enjoyed.

Mom was incredibly generous with her time and always willing to help. She organized timekeepers for North Bay Minor Hockey for many years, managed her children’s athletics, served on the Scollard Hall Ladies Auxiliary, and was part of the North Bay Canoe Club Executive. She also volunteered her time to referee at numerous charitable volleyball events and with Pack Sacs. Mom consistently went out of her way to assist those in need.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. O’Grady for her many years of dedicated care for Mom. Our sincere gratitude also goes to Ontario Home and Health for their diligent support, as well as the wonderful staff on Floors A3 and C1 at the North Bay Regional Health Center for their exceptional care over the past 8 months. Finally, thank you to Ashley, Larissa, and Gale from Paramed.

Visitation will be held at Hillside Funeral Services on Sunday May 25th from 1 until 4pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to KidSport North Bay or One Kid’s Place Children’s Treatment Center, would be greatly appreciated.