Tribute

Jo Bateman, our marvelous mother, fabulous friend, and incredibly kind and compassionate loving woman, passed away peacefully on September 8, 2026, held in love and presence by her family. The river of grace in which she lived surrounded her, wrapping all in her warmth.

Jo was born in Ottawa on January 11, 1944, the second child and only daughter of John Danvers and Avis Bateman; she had four brothers. Part of Jo liked to believe she had been accidentally switched at birth with Princess Margriet of the Netherlands. It was not true (same hospital, but months apart). Jo could always make the most of a good story. After the war her father, a geologist, took the family to Yellowknife. She loved the years there, becoming comfortable in nature and wildness, resourceful, and discovering her natural sociability.

Her warm heart and compassionate presence were a gift to all who knew her. These qualities made her an exceptional nurse, her career for her entire working life. She worked for the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Children’s Aid Society, and, with her first husband Peter, in Ghana with Canadian University Services Overseas. She spent the last 20 years of her career on Salt Spring at Lady Minto Hospital and in Home Care. She was always very grateful to have work that she loved. After Africa, in Toronto Jo joined Therafields, a therapeutic community. There she made friends with whom she stayed connected for the rest of her life. In 1981 she met David, who became her second husband. Together they created a family, having the great fortune of adopting identical twins, Joshua and Daniel, and not long afterwards adding Thea to the family.

Jo was steadfast in her exploration of her inner and spiritual lives. In her time apart from work and children, Jo continued the meditation practice she had begun in Toronto, and the Vipassana meditation community became one of the anchors of her life. Later she followed the path of the Diamond Approach, which deepened her exploration of the spiritual and added to her community of friends. Jo brought a lightness of heart, an infectious laugh, and a great sense of humour to every part of life and to her many island communities where she formed profound, life-sustaining friendships – Stowel Lake farm, her book club, the Moon group, her group of seven, the gene keys group, her inquiry group – as well as deep friendships outside of these groups.

Her other great pleasure was her family, both near and far away in Alberta and Ontario. She would say as she sat at the head of her table on Salt Spring: “I have had such a good life.” She just loved being a mom; there is no greater gift a mom can give than to tend her children in the way Jo did hers.

Jo had a courage that was quiet but fierce, and a strength that came from a very still place within her. These qualities came to the fore as she approached her death. Having received a diagnosis of dementia, and with a first-hand understanding of what this would mean for herself and her family, she chose with great courage and dignity to maintain her sovereignty and to end her life with medical assistance. She was profoundly grateful for the extraordinarily compassionate care of her doctors and nurses; and for the laws of our country that allow it.

Her presence will be missed beyond what words can express, but her love continues in all of us who knew her.