Joan Lenore Huff, born on Oct 14 1929 to Lawrence and Agnes Huff of Denver Colorado departed from life on earth to Life “with Christ, which is far better” during the late evening of Valentine’s day the 14th of February 2020. She was being tenderly cared for by her daughter Kathleen in Elyria, Ohio and was 90 years of age.

Dwight, her dear husband of 67 years, had entered the gates of Glory before her on January 15, 2015 . (Imagine Dwight’s surprise when she arrived and reminded him that it was Valentine’s Day!) Also previous to Joan, her brother David was whisked to glory in 2011, and her daughter-in-law Nancy (Daniel) in 2009.

In 1948, at the young age of 18 Joan married Dwight Lee Moody Weeks. By 1953 the couple had three children. Kathleen Lenore (Donald) Morris, David Bruce (Dorothy), and Daniel Martin (Harriet). Joan is survived by her three children, 14 Grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren (with more great grandchildren coming very soon.)
Energetic and independent, as a ‘tom boy’ she was often called ‘Joey’ by her two younger brothers and close friends. She loved life and, when a youth, thought she had it ‘by the tail’ with enthusiasm and insight.

As a mother of three children she was an early riser. A load of wash, and a clothes line full of clothing could be found drying in the sun before breakfast for Dwight and the children at 7:15am. Ingredients were readied for the family to make lunches for themselves before they marched off to school and Dad drove to work. By 9am the house was tidy with Dutch cleanliness.

Cash was pretty tight for the family and she found work in various ways to add to the comforts of home and give to others: With young children of her own, Joan was also licensed for daycare and integrated the work with her own children attending. When the three children attended elementary school they walked home to lunch each day with mom. She ran parts for the repair shop around the corner, cleaned apartments for neighbors and strangers (and taught us all how to swim in the apartment's free pool,) and washed and folded heaps of laundry for old bachelors. As we attended high school, she worked In a dress shop downtown, and in the children’s ward of the University of Colorado Medical center as a nursing assistant. With little to spare she would find gifts for those she loved at home and elsewhere. These are only a few examples of her help and building up of neighbours and friends.

Her home was always open to guests and hospitality. Sunday dinner was a favourite time together with friends and family. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for many were the norm. More guests than can be remembered came and stayed for months at a time. We children all had friends that stayed for days or longer. The neighbourhood knew no strangers.

She continued to show exceptional stamina when greeted with an empty nest at only 47, while battling difficult health issues. She was an ‘overcomer’ through a compressed spine after a road trip in the mountains that ended off the road in an overturned car. She fought through candida, mercury poisoning, breast cancer and two knee replacements along with congestive heart disease and macular degeneration. She rode her bicycle, swam laps, water walked, pushed her walker around the block to visit neighbours, and never passed up the chance to visit the thrift store- even when she could hardly see well enough to know what she was buying!

As her strength abated, she remained thankful and cheerful. In her last weeks as she grew too weak for her daughter Kathy to be able to keep her at home, she continued to be a testimony to the Grace of God - though tried by fire, and weak in body and spirit.

We are so grateful for this spunky woman who exampled life to the fullest for us. We know we will see her and Dwight again in our coming glorious home of love and peace “with Christ – which is far better”.

Hugs

To share a memory of Joan or leave a special condolence message for her family, please click the Share Memories button above.