Joanne Ogden passed away on April 13, 2026, at her home in Emo, Ontario.
She was a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. Predeceased by her parents Irene and John Ploegman, who taught her the importance of doing her best for her family and neighbours.
Her legacy continues to live on in the hearts of her devoted husband Kent Ogden; her beloved daughters Chelsey (Ben) and Riley (Jeff); her grandchildren Cassidy and Lauren; and her dear brothers Ken (Susan) and Travis (Angie). She resides in the memories of family, friends, colleagues, and through the lasting impact her contributions have made on the community and its members.
Joanne was known for her warmth, generosity, compassion, and commitment to advocate for those in need – characteristics that anyone around her grew to know and admire. This was reflected in her deep involvement in bettering her community.
She became a nurse in 1985, beginning a career that spanned 38 years, making herself a pillar of healthcare in the Rainy River District. She dedicated 20 years to the ICU at La Verendrye General Hospital before turning her focus to community health. As a published expert in wound care, she established a Wound Care Centre of Excellence to provide community members with care closer to home. She served as a health program supervisor for the Naicatchewenin First Nation where she advocated for healthcare equity – specifically for Indigenous health and wellness. Her contributions were recognized in 2017 with the First Nations and Inuit Health Award of Excellence in Nursing. Her vision extended forward as she returned to Riverside Health Care: becoming a member on the Board of Directors, a senior Quality Assurance Auditor, and Health Team Executive Lead where she was able to continue her advocacy for improving patient care – being a voice which represented those who needed one the most.
She made huge commitments to volunteering. This started with the Emo and District Lions Club, allowing her to continue serving the community in meaningful ways. Her contributions locally eventually led to her being offered the position of an International Director (2023–2025) where she continued to serve those in need – whether it was advocating locally, or volunteering internationally. Joanne shared many heartfelt moments with family, close friends, and colleagues of her time supporting communities in need.
While she had many professional achievements, Joanne found comfort at her home in Emo, with her husband. After their loving union in 1985, Kent and Joanne built their lives together: where they loved and cared for their daughters, and later continued to enjoy spending their quiet moments together. Whether it be tending to the horses or relaxing with the dogs. No matter the time apart during her years of international service, they always made the effort to reconnect, making unforgettable memories and sharing a lifetime of adventures.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Northridge Funeral Home. In lieu of a formal service, friends and loved ones are invited to share their favourite memories, photos, and tributes on Joanne’s online Memory Wall: https://www.northridgefuneralhome.com.
They did not vanish into silence.
They dissolved into starlight and memory,
into the quiet places of our becoming.
They are the breath between heartbeats,
the ache that teaches us how deeply we can love,
the invisible hand steadying us when the world feels too heavy.
An amazing soul never leaves—
they transform into legacy,
into a thousand small mercies we carry forward,
into courage we didn’t know we had,
into love that refuses to end.
To honor them
is to live gently,
to love fiercely,
and to walk this world as proof
that their light was real,
and it still burns within us. -j
