Obituary of Joan Marie Lowthers

Age 83, of Newport Station, passed away Monday, March 3, 2025 in Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville. Born June 5, 1941 in Windsor, Joan was a daughter of the late Aubrey and Alice (Manning) McNeil.

Joan attended Windsor Academy Business School and later worked for 35 years for the Department of Highways. She was a devoted member of the St. Thomas Anglican Guild, proudly in charge of the egg sandwiches. Joan along with her late husband Fred and later their children operated Fred’s Canteen. She loved spending time at farmers markets selling produce with her husband. Joan and Fred also spent many weekends taking in harness racing in the maritimes watching their own horses’ races. She spent time knitting and many family members and friends were lucky to receive her creations as gifts. As a grandmother, Joan was very devoted to her grandchildren, always wanting to take in all their extracurricular activities, it brought her immense joy.

Joan was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She is survived by her children, Doug (Karen), Inverness; Carol (Jack) Cochrane, Brooklyn; Joanne (Doug), Newport Station; Debbie (Peter) Francis, Sweets Corner; very special grandchildren, Sherri Lennie (Ryan); Leta, Drake, Lindsey Lowthers (Ben); Gregory Francis (Ryan); great grandchildren, Ezra, Phaedra, Maverick and Tucker; as well as very close friend, Shirley Ward.

Besides her parents, Joan was predeceased by her husband, George Frederick “Fred” Lowthers; brother, David McNeil and sister, Patsy Sanford.

Arrangements for cremation have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., Windsor (902-798-8317). Funeral Service will be held 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 7 in the funeral home chapel, Archdeacon Tom Henderson officiating. A livestream of the service will be available on the funeral home’s website (see below) beginning at 12:55 p.m. A reception will immediately follow in the funeral home’s Elmcroft Reception Centre. Interment will take place in Ste. Croix Cemetery, St. Croix. Donations in memory of Joan may be made to St. Thomas Anglican Church, C/O 76 Old Halifax Road West, Three Mile Plains, NS B0N 2T0 or Heart & Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, Box 245, Halifax, NS B3J 3R4. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca