On December 3, 2025, Joanna Innes of Chilliwack, British Columbia, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous ten-month battle with stage 4 small cell lung cancer. She was 64 years old.
A lifelong caregiver, Joanna was born in Abbotsford and raised on a Fraser Valley dairy farm. She dedicated nearly 40 years of her life to nursing, serving at Chilliwack General Hospital and later in palliative home care. Colleagues and patients alike remember her comforting presence, her endless patience, and the small kindnesses—like a pocketed cookie for a scared child—that defined her compassionate spirit.
As a single mother following the tragic loss of her husband, Joanna raised her four sons with unwavering love and resilience. She balanced night shifts with morning breakfasts, weekend soccer games, and a home filled with the smell of homemade perogies and the sound of shared laughter. Her guiding family principle was simple: “we figure it out together.”
To her four grandchildren, she was “Nana”—the heart of the family. Her home was a haven of joy, complete with a well-stocked toy box, a tree swing, and legendary Sunday dinners where every grandchild felt cherished and heard.
Even after her diagnosis in early 2025, Joanna continued to live with grace and determination—tending her garden, canning preserves, and knitting tiny hats for premature babies at the hospital, all while facing her own treatment with remarkable strength and a reassuring smile for those around her.
A private family service will be held on December 12, 2025. A public celebration of Joanna’s life will follow on December 14 at Evergreen Hall in Chilliwack. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Chilliwack Hospice Society or the BC Cancer Agency, organizations that provided exceptional care and comfort during Joanna’s final months.
