MacPHEE _ Joan Irene of Vancouver, B.C. passed away peacefully at Royal Columbian Hospital on April 9, 2003. Born in London, England, she was the middle daughter of Victor and Marie Tankard, two pre World War One vaudevillians. During the Second World War, Joan worked for the Canadian Armed Forces in Lancaster where she met her husband, Douglas MacPhee. While Doug gained his medical degree at the University of Edinburgh she had her first two children, Ross and Duncan. The family came to Canada in 1951. Douglas built his family practice in Edmonton, Alberta where they had two more children, Medrie and Sean. When Doug died suddenly in 1967, Joan moved with her four children to Vancouver, B.C. to be close to Doug's parents, Professor Earle and Jennie MacPhee. At the age of 57, Joan returned to work at UBC Hospital Extended Care. A tireless and well-respected aide, she never missed a day of work in her 15 years. Joan liked to have a good laugh. She brought the same gentle and humorous spirit to her professional life as to her family and friends. Joan was a loving grandmother to Conal, Briony, Sean, Cole, Matthias, Bree and Luke, and great-grandchild Gemma. Her children and their spouses Lynne Cawker, Wayne Nakatani, Veronica Mahanger, Angelika Kater, Harold Crooks, Ruth Wright, and Clare Flemming will miss her dearly. We want to thank her friends, and the staff at Royal City Manor, for giving her wonderful companionship and humor in her final weeks. God Bless you Joan, we are relieved that you can finely rest in peace. A service will be held on Monday, April 14 at 11:30 am at St. Mary's Anglican Church of Kerrisdale, 2490 West 37th Avenue, Vancouver. A reception will follow in the lounge of the church. In lieu of flowers kindly send donations to: The Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society or The Children's Hospital.