Obituaries

Joan Maureen Roy (Née Neysmith) was born in Saint-Lambert, Québec, on April 29, 1936, to proud parents, Alice (Crabb) and James Neysmith.

On August 7, 2026, after conversations and time surrounded by her husband, Robert; her children, Jacqueline (Brett) and Laurent (Vicki); and her beloved grandchildren, Gabrielle and Cédric, Joan Maureen Roy's physical body came to the end of a long and well-lived journey. Despite this, her spirit lives on in everyone she touched and who remains to carry her torch.

Joan never sat idle for long. She was a longtime Girl Guide since childhood. In her youth, there was cross-country skiing, downhill skiing in the Laurentian Mountains, and lifeguarding. She was an inner-city Montréal school teacher, then a psychologist, earning both her master's degree and Ph.D. at the University of Ottawa. She was on her quest to better understand how children learn, grow, and thrive.

It was at the U of O that she met her husband and lifelong friend, Bob. In 1978, what was meant to be their two-year career assignment to Regina led to a lifelong home filled with cherished friendships and a deep love of the Prairies.

Early on, and at a considerable cost to her own career, Joan chose to stay home to raise her children while Bob's work with the RCMP took him to communities across Saskatchewan. However, she championed every woman's decision to choose their own path, wanted equal pay and flexible hours for working moms, and believed deeply in human rights. In her final months, she spoke often about the importance of honouring treaties and ensuring Indigenous Peoples had a voice in decisions that affected their land.

Joan later became a professor of Psychology at Campion College, then at the University of Regina, before retiring as department head and being honoured with the designation of Professor Emerita. She found new ways to engage students, aiming to spark lifelong curiosity. She loved working with graduate students and researching child development. She embraced alternative teaching and assessment long before they were commonplace.

Although mandatory retirement ended her formal career at age 65, it never diminished her passion for teaching and learning. She continued mentoring students and joined the Lifelong Learning Centre. She played a leading role in developing and implementing the ideas and vision that became the University's Teaching Development Centre, helping profs become more effective communicators and teachers to students.

Naturally outgoing, Joan knew how to maintain meaningful relationships through intention and generosity. She valued laughter and playfulness just as much as thoughtful academic debate and struck a balance between the two with remarkable ease.

Joan's friendships spanned every chapter of her life. We hesitate to name them all, knowing we will leave someone out, or not fully capture the essence of what each person meant to her. She could describe in detail what she treasured most about each close friend. She had a remarkable gift for bringing others together in a joyful, gentle, and unobtrusive way. She filled a room with warmth and vitality, and knew just what to say.

She formed friendships through mother-and-me groups, Girl Guides as a Leader, and among her U of R colleagues, with whom she often swam or walked over lunch. She enjoyed the camaraderie of Stitch and Bitch or Connecting Threads quilting groups, the curling club, the Regina Ski Club, cooking club, book club, and U of R Women, where she was honoured to serve as president for a time.

Joan shared her time and knowledge with the RCMP, teaching cadets and staff how to recognize elder abuse and protect seniors. She participated in their groundbreaking scenario training.

Travel was a lifelong passion. She visited two Girl Guide World Centres in her youth and accidentally met Lady Baden Powell while out hiking one day. She explored Europe and elsewhere on her own and later with Bob. She found peace at the family timeshare near Glacier National Park in Columbia Falls, Montana until 2024. She then ventured more often to Elkhorn Lodge in Manitoba. Whether travelling abroad or piling the family into the car for a trip to Cypress Hills, she found equal wonder in the grand and the commonplace.

Shortly after celebrating their 54th wedding anniversary, Joan became ill and passed away peacefully ten days later in palliative care. Looking back, only days earlier, she had quietly said she no longer wished for another roaring campfire or trip. Her adventures, she felt, were complete. Perhaps she knew something the rest of us did not.

Joan was predeceased by her parents; her brothers, David, Peter, John, and Michael; and Michael’s wife, Wendy. She is lovingly remembered by her sisters, Mary Dawson (Richard) and Sheila Neysmith (Michael Milner); her sisters-in-law, Jane and Ann Neysmith; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

Joan lived a full and complete life. She often began developmental psychology classes by saying "we will explore life from womb to tomb." She believed every stage of life deserved to be understood, celebrated, and honoured.

We hope you will grieve Joan's passing—but not for too long. Joan also believed in the importance of collective remembering. ALL friends and family are invited to attend one or both events below.

Funeral Mass for Joan will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at the RCMP Chapel, Regina, SK with Father Thomas Nguyen Celebrant. Please RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/rememberjoan

Her cremains will then be placed at the RCMP National Cemetery columbarium in Regina.

A Celebration of Life will take place at the MacKenzie Art Gallery, 3475 Albert Street, Regina, SK from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026; no need to RSVP. Come for a bit or stay for all of it.

A Celebration of Life will be held as well in Toronto, ON at a later date.

Leave flowers to bloom where Joan loved them most—in the garden. Those wishing to honour her memory can instead donate to the Girl Guides of Canada – Saskatchewan Council, the University of Regina Centre on Aging and Health, or the Friends of the Mounted Police Heritage Centre.

Joan wanted us all to hear one final message: "I have gone home."

In Scouting and Guiding, the Gone Home symbol tells those who follow that no more trail signs are needed—the traveller has arrived home safely.

Joan is still with us. She lives on in every student she inspired, the hearts of family and friends, every track on a ski trail where snow sparkles, and every stroke through cool, crisp water.

The family extends its thanks to the dedicated paramedics, ER staff, Dr. J. Mamchur and team on 3D, and Joan's palliative care team at Regina Pasqua Hospital for their compassion and care through this difficult time.