Remembering Joanne Loveridge

JOANNE LOVERIDGE BN, PG Cert Palliative Care

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we share news of the passing earlier this month of YODAT founder and board member, Joanne Loveridge.

Having worked in a variety of health care settings over 52 years of nursing Joanne was integral to the establishment of YODAT and the Day Service. She selflessly gave her time, expertise and knowledge to YODAT from coordinating and organizing the volunteers, preparing and cooking the meals (including many YODAT Christmas parties), establishing and facilitating the YODAT Family Support Group Service, advising on policies and strategy and much much more.

It was Joanne’s mission and passion to do whatever she could to ensure that younger people with dementia live a purposeful life. Her insight, expertise and the hours of time she put into all aspects of YODAT has been invaluable.

Joanne’s kindness, compassion, friendship and generosity to everyone she came in contact with, from those attending our Day Service, their families, fellow board members, volunteers and health professionals will never be forgotten.

Her beautiful smile, her patience, her warmth to all has always been appreciated and will be truly missed. Joanne had a lot of love to give. She leaves an amazing legacy behind and a huge hole in our hearts and in our whanau. We thank her deeply for everything that she has given and done for YODAT.

We send all our love, support and thoughts to Joanne’s partner Warren (who has volunteered and supported Joanne in many YODAT ventures) and to her dearest family.