Obituary

Joan Helen Elven

September 12, 1921 - October 25, 2011

JOAN HELEN ELVEN
Though London UK -born, on 12 September 1921, she was a part of Dorset,
which she loved passionately, for over half a century. She and her beloved
husband, Joe, with absolutely no experience of the pub trade, took over an
old in at Plush and transformed it into a famous venue, The Brace of
Pheasants, which entered the Good Food Guide thanks to her culinary skills,
and her quiet charm as "Mine Hostess". Many guests enjoyed a stay at "The
Brace", including the then Poet Laureate, C. Day-Lewis, and his wife, and
under his nom-de-plume of Nicholas Blake, he featured the village and Joan
and Joe in one of his novels.
Bringing those same skills to bear, Joan gave Summer Lodge at Evershot
its original start as a beautiful hotel, much frequented by the discerning.
Illness caused her to retire from the stress of hotel business, but she
later kept house for several families, among them the then Duke and Duchess
of Norfolk.
She and her husband enjoyed some years of happy retirement in the
Algarve, but on Joe's death she came to live in Nottington, where she took
an active part in community life, doing voluntary work at Parnham, the
Joseph Weld Hospice and for the Red Cross at DCH. She would spend every
Sunday with her youngest brother, Peter, and his wife at Overcombe, and
continued to swim in the sea until her early 80s.
She travelled widely, visiting her elder daughter, Susan, in the Middle
East and the States, and her younger daughter, Sally, and two granddaughters
Ella and Sophie in Sydney.
She was kind, generous, gentle, always elegant, but sadly Alzheimer's
took its toll, though she was able to end her days, on 25 October, with
dignity, in the loving care of Sue and Norm.
She is survived by her family, Sue and Norm (USA) (Daughter and Son in Law);
Sally and Oli ( Australia) (Daughter and Son in law); Peter and Toni (Brother and sister in law);
Sophie and Ella (Granddaughters) (Australia); David, Judith, Chris and Anthony (Neice and nephews)
Service is Thursday November 3rd at 11 AM at St Therese Catholic Church Mooresville, NC.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan's memory may be made to The Serenity House would
be appreciated, Carolina Comfort Coalition at Serenity House, 110 Centre
Church Road, Mooresville, N.C. 28117.