Mary Joanne (Allewell) Lapum

At the age of 92, Mary Joanne Lapum (known to her good friends as “Jo”) died in Peterborough on Tuesday February 11, 2025. Married to Robert “Bob” James Lapum (predeceased) for almost 65 years. Loved by her five children Jack (Joyce, predeceased) Susan (Dennis), Mark, Dianne (Scott), and Jenny (Gary), and her grandchildren Claire, Matt, Sam, Katelyn and Comrie. Our mom/nana loved her cat Maggie so much. Maggie followed mom everywhere, slept with her, and shared some meals too. Jo was raised in Toronto, Cayuga, and Fonthill. She was a teacher and a principal and taught in Calgary for a couple of years. She met Bob playing badminton in Port Colborne. After marriage, Joanne moved to Peterborough in about 1960 and raised her children. She was very active in her childrens’ lives and drove them and supported them in many sports and piano among other things. Joanne was a very active volunteer with the IODE and Meals on Wheels just to name a few. She was a strong advocate for empowering women and believed that each young female could do anything they set their mind to. She instilled the importance of volunteerism in her children and grandchildren at a very young age. Some of her many hobbies included bridge, reading, sewing, knitting, and painting. Her kids (even as adults) and grandchildren would always ask for help to fix a shirt or hem a pair of pants and she was always willing and happy to do so. She also had an amazing love for sports and Canada. Sometimes we would call and ask for mom, and dad would answer the phone (with mom at the kitchen table), trying not to chuckle with his mischievous grin and say: “She isn’t available right now. She is away at the olympics.” She was an amazing cook and headed up all the big family gatherings at our Langton Street home on Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter among many other occasions, and all were always welcome at the table. Some of her best were roast beef and yorkshire pudding, homemade macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, cheese biscuits (and a big dollop of butter), and her many desserts such as pavlova and every flavour of pie. Every year mom made raspberry, strawberry and peach jam. Mom and dad were the centre of our family and we will miss them deeply. We hope they are together now having coffee and doing sudoku together. We can’t thank the staff enough at Rubidge Retirement Home. Each one of them were exceptional and gave Jo (and her cat Maggie) so much kindness, love, and support. In addition, we want to give special thanks to Dr. Erin Nishikawa. She is such a special and compassionate person and palliative care doctor. The family is also thankful to Connie (mom and dad’s friend and housekeeper) and our relative Colleen who both visited Mom often in the retirement home - they are both angels on earth and were so loved by our mom. In lieu of flowers, feel free to volunteer somewhere, read a book, give someone a compliment, donate to a good cause, or visit a friend in need. There will be a Celebration of Joanne’s Life held at the HIGHLAND PARK FUNERAL CENTRE. 2510 Bensfort Rd., Peterborough, on Saturday February 15 from 10:30am to 12:30pm.