Joan Rouillard Bishop

January 11, 1928 - March 12, 2022

Joan Rouillard Bishop, 94, passed away March 12, 2022 at Trinity Place in Albemarle, NC. Joan was born January 11, 1928 in Chicopee Falls, MA to Arthur Rouillard and Bertha Eva Chaput Rouillard. With family roots in Quebec, Canada, Joan grew up speaking both French and English. She was married for 63 years to Linmon (Lin) Alfred Bishop until his death in 2010. She is survived by two daughters, Linda Mathias and her husband, Terry, of Carbondale, IL and Ruth Fairweather and her husband, Douglas, of Concord, NC and granddaughter, Hannah Fairweather. After their marriage in 1947 Joan and Lin lived in Syracuse, NY where Lin was employed by General Electric. Once the children came along, Joan and Lin moved to a home in Phoenix, NY. Later the family transferred to Lynchburg, VA where they lived for many years. Due to her health Joan moved in 2021 to a long-term care facility in Albemarle, NC to be closer to her family. During her years in Lynchburg, Joan was an active member of Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, then St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, and later St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Joan was a devoted wife and mother who put her family first in all matters. Family activities included frequent drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway and visits to the Peaks of Otter lodge, summer vacations in St. Petersburg, FL and trips to Virginia’s many historic sites. Joan was a dedicated homemaker who took pride in running an orderly home. She enjoyed baking, sewing, reading and writing poetry, solving word puzzles and she loved animals. She was a quiet, modest woman who didn’t like drawing attention to herself but was always willing to help others. She delivered Meals on Wheels in Lynchburg for over 10 years. She served on her church altar guild, taught children’s Sunday school, and learned American Sign Language to assist deaf church members. She sewed special occasion dresses for friends, babysat for neighbors, and had homemade cookies ready for her children and their friends after school. Joan considered being a loving and nurturing mother as her greatest achievement and joy. A service for the family will be conducted in Albemarle, NC with burial in the Bishop family plot at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Jamesville, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lynchburg Humane Society, Development Dept., 1211 Old Graves Mill Rd., Lynchburg, VA 24502. Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care in Albemarle assisted the family with arrangements. The family wishes to thank the staff of Trinity Place in Albemarle and the hospice team of Hospice of Stanly for their faithful and tender care of Joan.