THORBURN – Joan Courtney Kearley, 90, Northumberland Veterans Unit, Pictou, formerly of Thorburn passed away, Sunday, January 15, 2012 in the Unit. Born in London, England she was a daughter of the late Reverend Henry Courtney and Agnes Muriel (Kirkby) Bender. She attended Gadolphin-Latymer School for Elementary and High School in London, England. She was enrolled as a pre-med student at Queens University, London until her studies were interrupted by the beginning of the Second World War. She then transferred to the Business School at Queens, taking classes during the Blitz, graduating in 1941. She was employed with the District Bank of Manchester and Salford until1942 when she joined the Royal Artillery, Anti-Aircraft Division serving with the unit as one of the “Bow and Arrow Girls” (No. 1 on the Height Finder) until 1944. Joan was a D-Day veteran, having served on the South Coast of England at the staging area at Gosport. On August 12, 1944, she married Lance Sergeant Harold Kearley, MM (North Nova Highlanders) and moved to McLennan’s Mountain on March 1, 1946, beginning a family and life in Canada. Joan was a charter member of St. Alban’s Anglican Church, Thorburn, where she had served as Warden, Secretary to the Council and ACW, and lector. Joan was one of the founding members of the District 13 Recreation and Planning Commission and had been part of the “unofficial” committee in 1971 looking for a site to build the Ivor MacDonald Memorial Rink. She was one of the founders of the East Pictou Fair, where she served as treasurer for 11 years, retiring in 1985. Joan served from 1957-1990 as Akela for the Thorburn Wolf Cub Pack and a term as Assistant District Commissioner. She was involved with training Boy Scout leaders for Eastern and Central Nova Scotia for 17 years. In 1993 she was awarded The Medal of Merit by the Boy Scouts of Canada. Joan was a member of St. John Ambulance from 1941-1993 and was a Red Cross Blood Donor for many years. Surviving are her daughters, Diana (Jim) Feit, Wendy Kearley, New Glasgow; Helen Ruth (Kenneth) Helps, Surrey, B.C.; Anne (James) Cameron, Lunenburg; grandchildren, Joan, Harold, Jennifer (Tony), Rebecca, Jonathan, Allison, David (Erin), Scott (Tanya), Robert; great-grandsons, Joshua and Connor; daughter-in-law, Marilyn MacLeod, Pictou; sister-in-law, Marlene “Muffy” Bender, England; several nieces and nephews; many cousins; friends, Charles Langille, Pictou and Sheila Illstone, Dartmouth. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Harold David Kearley; son, Derrick Kearley; sister, Eleanor Bender; brother, Holwell “Peter” Bender. The family will receive visitor’s 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17th in P. & K. MacDonald Funeral Home, New Glasgow from where funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan 18th in the chapel with Archdeacon Peter Armstrong presiding. Joan will be laid to rest beside her loving husband, Harold D. Kearley, MM , at a committal service held 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 16th in McLennan’s Mountain Cemetery with Chaplain Michael Simmons officiating. Due to family allergies, no flowers or scents please. Donations may be made in Joan’s memory to St. Alban’s Anglican Church, Thorburn or gifts of service in your own community. "We wish to express our sincere appreciation for all the support we have received from friends and community" - The Kearley Family