Joan McGrail - My Mum
Yorkshire Evening Post 13th December 2025
Obituary
Much of this tribute has been prepared with Stephen. Joan meant so much to so many in so many different ways, so it is hard to capture them all. I hope what you hear reminds you of your own stories and memories of Joan – and you will take the opportunity after the service to share with one another your own precious moments. The absence of a story in these words does not mean it is forgotten. It simply means it lives on in you, in the way you remember and in the way you chose to honour her.
Joan Goldthorpe was born on the 19th November 1925 at Urn farm, Hunslet, the home of her grandfather the famous rugby player Albert Goldthorpe. Joan was the middle child born to Edward & Louisa. She had an older sister Audrey and a younger brother Geoffrey.
Joan spent the early part of her life in the Woodhouse & Meanwood areas where she attended Bentley Lane school. She left school at 14 and went to work at William Rhodes Ltd. She was involved with clerical, secretarial and other duties as well being the factory nurse. Joan spent almost 20 years with the company.
During the war she was in the Red Cross and as a teenager was on duty at Meanwood emergency hospital when the first casualties were brought back to Leeds. Joan has always been interested in first aid and it was not unusual for friends to take advice from Joan before visiting their doctors.
A shared love of cycling led her to meet Denis and they married in 1948. They settled at 20 Hawks Nest Gardens West, Alwoodley in 1950 and a good few years later Stephen came along. Joan was a very caring, kind and loving wife and mother. She enjoyed 75 years in her home until she moved to Neville House care home last March.
Joan has always had her faith and although she has not always been able to attend church on a regular basis, without fail she would pray to God each evening. She had a generous heart, expressed in her presence at St John’s and involved in charity work with a number of voluntary organisations over the years. She was a passionate supporter of the Guide Dogs for the Blind association. Joan was also a founder member of the Moor Allerton branch of the Townswomen’s guild.
Joan loved her home and took great pride in keeping it neat and tidy, there was always a warm welcome for anyone who called. That welcome always included some home made baking. Most of you here today will have sampled some of her delicious cakes, pastry and other offerings. Joan enjoyed all types of crafting, making cards, icing cakes, making sugar flowers, flower arranging. She especially enjoyed knitting. In her later years this was mainly baby clothes and hats, many of which went to an orphanage in Romania, and Easter chickens, sold for charity. She was a faithful letter writer, corresponding weekly with Doreen for over 40 years.
Joan’s quiet adventurousness could be seen in her holidays – around Europe on a motorbike in the 50s, then after Denis retired they enjoyed a round the world trip and many holidays in the UK and abroad. She visited over 100 countries in her 100 years, sometimes with friends Doreen & Ken. Sadly these trips came to an end in 2004 when Denis, the love of her life, died.
Some of the comments people have shared over the last few days paint a picture of Joan’s character. A true friend, kindness personified, legendary baking, 80 years of friendship, like a second mother, strong, determined and industrious, a lovely neighbour. She was kind, loving and caring and would do anything for other people.
Remember Joan as you knew her, mother, relative, friend and neighbour and continue to live your lives as she would wish you to do.
Stephen is most grateful for the support that he has received from friends at this time. There are several friends who have been unable to come, but he is thankful for the love and support he has received, and by you being here today. He is also deeply thankful for all the care given by those at Neville House.