Joan Zonia Rudman

Our beloved mom, grandma and aunt, Joan Zonia Rudman, passed away at the Sturgeon Hospital in St. Albert on Wednesday, August 23.

Joan was born in Willingdon, Alberta on December 18, 1946 to Mary and Bill Drusal. The family moved to Edmonton not long after and later in life Joan would also call Algeria and the Canary Islands her home.

Joan was a no nonsense straight talker who was compassionate and empathetic. She had a great sense of humour and liked to laugh with (and tease) her grandkids whom she doted on. She was also a loyal friend whose kindness and calm presence endeared her to many and several of her friendships spanned decades. If you were in a crisis and needed a listening ear and solid advice, Joan was the first person you would call.

Joan’s baking and cooking were legendary and she loved to feed her family and friends. Her pierogies, nalysnyky, cabbage rolls, gravy, head cheese, ginger snaps, khrustyky and cinnamon buns would elicit happy cheers whenever they would appear on the dinner table. Or if you were lucky, she’d deliver a bag of cookies or buns right to your door. Her food deliveries always made you feel extra loved and cared for.

Joan leaves behind her loving children Kim Marshall (Bill); Scott Rudman (Dajana Fabjanovic); and Rodney Veremy (Jenny); her grandchildren; Cortney, Richard, Dayton, Addison, Oliver and Luka; her niece Lynn; sweet dog Max; and several close friends.

Joan was predeceased by her husband Ernie, parents Mary and Bill, siblings Alex, Bill, Martha, Cynthia, Orest and Sylvia.

In lieu of flowers, Joan would ask that you hug your loved ones extra tight, plant a big kiss on their cheek and tell them “love you!”

She is so loved and so missed.