Beverly Joan Backhaus (nee Thorne), age 83, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on February 17, 2023. Born October 29, 1939, in Port Elgin, Ontario, Joan was the first of four children to Lucy and Kenneth Thorne. The family moved to BC in 1952 and Joan has been a long-term resident of Sidney ever since.
Joan worked in the local pharmacies and was active as a volunteer with the Sidney branch of Scouts Canada. An avid reader and boater, Joan also loved to travel and managed to visit many places around the world in her lifetime. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends at Mt Washington, Phoenix and Shawnigan Lake. Many people benefited from Joan’s kind and generous nature over the years, including the Saanich Peninsula Hospital as well as other local charities.
Joan was preceded in death by her mother Lucy Short Thorne Whittier; father Kenneth Thorne, Sr.; brother Kenneth Thorne, Jr.; sister Lorri Thorne Bull Pelto; and first husband Leo Wilkinson.
Joan is survived by her husband of 57 years, Poul Backhaus; brother Steven/Sheryl Thorne (Jeremy/Sherrae and Emelia, Breanne); sister-in-law Freda (Kenneth) Thorne (Lisa/Kelly and Sophie); brother-in-law Lorne (Lorri) Pelto (Kim/Shane and Cole, Camryn, Brooklyn)(Kelly/Steve and Jake, Ryan, Luke); her children Susan/Lloyd Jenkins (John/Jade and Mark/Agnes), Tom/Tracy Wilkinson (Shannon and Nick); Nella/Ed Bosma (Katie/Leon and Kylie, Blake, Bennett); and Dale/Debbie (Tracz) Backhaus (Abbigail, Dana, Chase). Joan is also survived by numerous cousins and their families in Eastern Canada.
A celebration of Joan’s life will be held at a future date. Condolences may be offered at victoriasimplycremations.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation.