JOAN CROSKERY (nee RYLANDS), beloved wife of the late Robert Croskery, passed away peacefully after a short stay at the Chinook Regional Hospital on Sunday, April 26th, 2015 at the age of 86 years.

Joan is survived by her four daughters: Ruby Jane (John) Vancak of Fairhope, Alabama, Edith (Rick) Stokes of Toronto, Ontario, Catherine (Michael) McIntyre, also of Toronto, and Lettie (Andreas) Croskery of Lethbridge. Joan and Robert were incredibly loving grandparents to Catherine (Katie) Graham, Meredith Stokes, Robert Stokes, Erica Lynch and Nicole Pommer.

Joan was born, raised and educated in Lethbridge. She began a life-long love of music at the age of 4 1/2 , taking piano lessons from Mrs. Mellor-Langdale and Mrs. W.J. Nelson. She received her L.R.S.M. diploma in pianoforte teaching, studying with Bea Foster. Joan attended the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute and the University of Alberta in Edmonton where she graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree (Fine Arts pattern). She taught piano and theory at Mount Royal College in Calgary for two years and then opened a studio for teaching in her father's business building, the Rylands' Block, in Lethbridge. In 1954, Joan became the first Director of Music for the newly established McKillop United Church.
Joan married Robert Croskery of Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, in 1958. They lived in Calgary where Robert was employed by the Bank of Montreal. In subsequent years, they were transferred to Edmonton and Toronto. Joan served as Director of Music in Westmount Presbyterian Church, Edmonton; St. Albert United Church, St. Albert; and St. John's United Church, Toronto, Ontario. In 1985, after Robert had taken early retirement from the Bank of Montreal, they moved to Lethbridge where they lived in Joan's parents' former home. Joan was Director of Music at Knox United Church in Taber for 6 years and organist at Southminster United Church for 10 1/2 years. In 1988, she attended the University of Lethbridge on a part-time basis, graduating in 1995 with a Bachelor of Music degree. In November of 2002, Joan received the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal for service to the community.
She was a member of the Mathesis Club, the Probus Club, the Newcomers' Alumni Club, the Royal Canadian College of Organists (Calgary Branch) and the Lethbridge Historical Society. Joan had been a member of the Registered Music Teachers of Alberta (Lethbridge Branch) for over 40 years.

A Memorial Service will be held at MCKILLOP UNITED CHURCH, 2329 - 15 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB on Friday, May 1, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Terry Shillington officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Music Program at McKillop United Church, 2329 - 15 Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 0X5