Johanna Selucia Huberdina Fahie (née Kuit)

Over her long and interesting life, Johanna Fahie could always be counted on to remember everyone’s birthday, complete impossible jigsaw puzzles, and bake an exquisite German chocolate cake. Her youth was spent in several lower mainland British Columbia towns and villages, as her father was a section manager with the Canadian Pacific Railway. This itinerant lifestyle well prepared her for her chosen career as an air weapons controller in the Royal Canadian Air Force, which she entered shortly after completing high school. Her crew chief at work was Joe Fahie, who knew a good thing when he saw it, and they were soon married and off on a series of postings in Canada and the U.S. Her dream was to visit Europe, which eventually came true with a posting to Ramstein, Germany in 1974. Joe’s second career as an air defense consultant took him and Johanna around the world to several exotic and varied countries.

Over the sixty-seven years of their marriage, Johanna and Joe raised five children, who went on to produce sixteen grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. Although sometimes scattered all over the globe, the family always found opportunities to get together for reunions. The adage that “distance makes the heart grow fonder” was certainly true in the Fahie clan.

Throughout her life, Johanna was often faced with change and new challenges. She once drove a moving truck (towing a car behind it) from California to Nova Scotia, moved umpteen times, started skiing in her forties and decided to learn how to skate at the tender age of 73. She was always eager to meet people and hear their stories, and her infectious smile and moves on the dance floor could light up any room.

After attending Sunday mass and then talking with each of her widely scattered five children on Mother’s Day, Johanna passed away peacefully with her daughter Susan by her side. She is survived by her brother Walter Kuit (Dawn), as well as children Ron (Suzanne), Susan, Lorraine, Rob, and Chris (Tracey). She is predeceased by her sister Lucy, sons-in-law Rocco and Mike, and daughter-in-law Brenda, and the love of her life, Joe Fahie, who left us two years ago.

Johanna’s extended family would like to thank the various health care professionals who cared for her over the last couple of months. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday June 21, 2024 at Holy Redeemer R.C. Parish in Kanata, followed by a reception at Park Ridge Place, 7305 Campeau Drive, Kanata. A private interment for the family will be held at the military section of the Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa the following day.