Joan Elizabeth Graham Bassingthwaighte
January 10, 1932 - October 16, 2012
Obituary
Joan Elizabeth Graham Bessingthwaighte
January 10, 1932 – October 16, 2012
Joan Elizabeth Graham Bessingthwaighte born to Marion and Bernard Graham in Toronto, Ontario, on January 10, 1932, died October 16th 2012. She was the oldest of six children; her siblings are Carol Rethorst (Costa Mesa CA), Judith Bulley (Chemainus, British Columbia), Allan Grahma (Toronto), Wade Graham (Toronto), and Kathleen Wickenhauser (Saskatchewan).
Joan is survived by her husband, James, and her five children: Elizabeth Anne Peterson, Mary Eleanor Bassingthwaighte, Alan Graham B., Sarah Louse B., and Rebecca Jane B.
Joan, While born in Toronto, grew up in Sudbury, Ontario, 300 miles north of Toronto, the home of the international Nickel Company and a city of many cultures. The grade school and high school survived her mischief, and she survived her escapades of forest and lakes and snows. At the University of Toronto she became a geographer, number one in her class of 565. Next day after graduation she married Jim, and, in order to support him through medical internship, worked on planning the city of Elliott Lake, Canada’s source of uranium from Consolidated, Denison. Anne arrived March ’56. In July, back to Sudbury where Jim was an INCO doctor, and then to Matheson in back country practice with Joan’s uncle Robert Wade, delivering babies and everything else.
Medical residency and practice continued in London UK, and then Rochester MN at Mayo from 1958 to 1975, where Joan organizd book club, the theatre playbills, and brought three more daughters and a son through childhood with lots of TLC and motherly wisdom. Years away in Minneapolis and Bern, Switzerland, enriched our family because of her good management.
After moving to Seattle in 1975, she went to Law School at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma on top of looking after the family, speeding to graduation and through her bar exams in 1981. In 1983 she joined a Seattle law firm, which soon became Prince, Kelly, Newsham and Bassingthwaighte, where she emphasized family law, children and disadvantaged women. Participation in a women’s group and book club and tennis and golf, and even writing some poems kept her out of mischief. Well, maybe not, depending on how one interprets the works of the “Poet Laureate” of Laurelhurst. Central Park Tennis Club used her talents on committees and as Treasurer and member of the board of Directors.
She has many friends around the world, from travels and sabbaticals, and from her love of music and the theartre. Joan found an outlet for her deep love of music with the ukulele group the Motherpluckers. Her time with this group has been very meaningful. she was the most devoted and loyal fan of her children’s and grandchildren’s concerts and would never miss an event. She was a doting, loving grandmother, who felt lucky to have five of her grandchildren in the area, and wished the other five could also be there. She treasured all ten of them greatly. She was a devoted and loyal wife who supported Jim till the very end.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 21, at 4PM in the afternoon at the Bassingthwaighte home at 3150 E. Laurelhurst Dr. NE, Seattle, WA 98105. EVERYONE WELCOME.
Please leave your memories in the guest book at this website.
Dr. Peterson blessing and straingth to you and family.
I am so sorry for your loss. Just want to let you know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
I am so sorry about your loss. I know how this moments are as I just lost my mother less than a month ago. I pray for you and all your family. May you find comfort on happy memories Her immortal spirit is lovingly with all of you.
My family and I feel the loss of your mother. We will pray for her soul and your family.
Jim, I remain very sorry to hear this news. Please know of my prayers for you and your family.
Lo siento mucho. I am very sorry for your loss. You are in my prayers and I send you thoughts of peace and courage. Please extend my sympathy to your family.
I pray to the Lord to comfort the Family. An Angel from heaven will be taking care of all of you. You are in my praires. God bless you all. Rafael
Sarah called to tell me the news. I am stunned and saddened. My love and thoughts are with the whole familly.
Dear Jim, Our hearts go out to you for this sudden and terrible loss. Joan was a wonderful woman, delightful, insightful and always such fun to be with. We have many lovely memories of our pre-theatre dinners together with you both. You wil be much in our hearts as you find your way through the sadness of the next several weeks. May you find peace in the countless wonderful memories of yours and Joan’s life together.
Fondly,
Gwen and Curt
To Jim and your wonderful family…. my heart goes out to all of you at your sudden and profound loss of the wonderful Joan.
My prayers are with you.
Our sympathy and prayers to Jim and all your children and grandchildren. Deb and I have nothing but fond memories of Joan. Tennis in Laurelhurst and Central Park with Joan employing her underhanded backhand. Bridge in our homes. Vacationing in Palm Springs, Maui and a trek through Joshua National Park. Joan was a great friend and we’ll miss her. She has our love in heaven – wherever that may be.
Jim and Deb
Dear Jim, We express our deepest sympathies with your loss of your wonderful loving wife, Joan. Our best wishes to you and all the family.
We have been away and only today learned about Joan’ s sudden death. Rose Marie and David
My empathy and prayers for you and the family. May God give you comfort, peace, and many fond memories of your years together.
I am sorry to read of your loss. Grandson Grant recently told me of Anne’s recent travel to Seattle and I enjoy rekindling the memory of visits to the home on E. Laurelhurst Dr. that was warmed by the remarkable lady whose spirit makes me smile even today, knowing that her remarkable family is still with us.