Obituary of JOSEPH FRANCIS SCOTT

JOSEPH F. SCOTT

Joseph Scott, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away on July 20, 2024. His unique sense of humour, unwavering loyalty, and dedication to education left an indelible mark on all those who knew him.

Joseph leaves to mourn his cherished wife, Patricia; children Jeffrey (Dorothy), Michael (Tannis), and Judy; grandchildren Matthew, Abigail, Brendan, Sinead, Siobhan, William, and Bridget. His siblings Barry, Robert (Judi Anne), and John (Diana).

He was predeceased by his parents John and Ida, his brother Ron, and sister-in-law Carol.

Joseph also leaves behind many nieces and nephews who will hold the memory of Uncle Joe dear to them.

Joseph was an educator in every sense of the word. There are the thousands of children that passed through the halls of his schools, the couples that he opened his heart to at Marriage Encounter, and his family and friends to whom he offered sage words of wisdom and encouragement. His legacy lives on through the countless people he guided with his light touch and firm beliefs.

Joe was a proud Winnipegger. He grew up in St. Boniface with a short side trip when the family moved to the North End for a few years. That sense of community was a constant throughout his life where he selflessly gave back to clubs and organizations both large and small, serious and social. He would speak fondly of the Dubuc Social Club whose minutes and purpose are lost in the mists of time. Unfortunately for us there is still evidence of his beloved Blue Knights who spent Canada Day at Blue Lake in spirited discussions on the finer points of the human experience. More seriously, Joe believed very strongly in the Credit Union movement devoting many volunteer hours on the executive of the Holy Cross Credit Union, which became the Heritage Credit Union before becoming part of Cambrian Credit Union. His time as President was marked by his steady and unflappable presence. He and Pat also devoted themselves to Worldwide Marriage Encounter as participants and leaders. There they made lifelong friendships that enriched their lives and the lives of their family.

Despite winning “Student of the Month” and being awarded a necktie from Huot’s Menswear on Provencher, Joe’s educational career got off to a rocky start, culminating with him failing grade 12. He transferred to Mariaoplis Collegiate to complete his High School education. There he enjoyed the hospitality of the DePape family in Swan Lake, which left an enduring bond that saw family trips to their farm for many years after. Shortly after, and armed with a B. Ed from the University of Manitoba, he embarked on a career that spanned over 40 years. His first position was teaching Grade 6 at Queenston School where he was awarded “Teacher of the Year” and was presented with a Shakespeare fishing rod which he treasured for the rest of his life. With a young family, Joe spent many late evenings pursuing, and finally graduating with a Master’s degree in Education. Joe left the classroom for administration where he spent the rest of his career in schools throughout Division 1. He gave back to his fellow teachers by accepting a term as the President of the Winnipeg Teacher’s Association before returning to River Heights Junior High to finish his career.
 

Joe loved to travel and he was happiest behind the wheel of a car which made for a perfect combination. Fortunately, as a teacher he had six weeks each summer to indulge in this passion. He would load the family in to the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser station wagon with a trailer attached and explore. These trips always started off with Canada Day celebrations at Blue Lake with the extended family and friends. There were many precious memories made there and it remains an unforgettable part of all of our lives. After retiring, Joe and Pat would spend winters in Florida where they built a wonderful community of friends in Largo. In the summers, they would spend time at the cottage or driving cross country to visit friends.

The best years of his life were spent with his partner, best friend, and love of his life, Patricia. They met on a double date with his brother Ron. In a rare twist of fate, Pat was Ron’s date that night while his soon to be sister-in-law Carol was Joe’s date. Both Pat and Joe, as well as Carol and Ron ended up as lifelong partners. They endured a period where their courtship was long distance while Pat was nursing in Fort Frances. The legacy of that time is a treasure trove of letters replete with sentimental poetry that managed to woo Pat nevertheless. Pat was always a spark for Joe encouraging him to ever greater success. Joe was a loving and steadfast husband, father, and grandfather. He was proud of his kids and grandkids and took great joy in their accomplishments. In return, they each have special memories to treasure.

Joe lived a full life, he loved and was loved.

He has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, he has kept the faith. May he rest in peace.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Ignatius Church, 255 Stafford Street on Tuesday, August 6th at 1:00 PM.

The family would like to thank the staff at Riverview AB1 for their kind and selfless care. They were a comfort to our family and we are ever grateful.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Riverview Health Centre Foundation at One Morley Avenue.