Joanne was born in Ontario to a Christian family and attended Christian schools throughout her childhood. Her personal relationship with God truly began at an All-Ontario Youth Convention (AOYC) during her teenage years. She met Jim, who became her best friend and later, her husband. Together, they raised ten children—five boys and five girls. Joanne found herself strengthening her faith during challenging times, realizing she was not meant to carry life's burdens alone. She was meant to hand them over to God.

Joanne and Jim decided to homeschool their children through elementary and junior high school. Inspired by her experiences and conversations with other homeschooling mothers, Joanne wrote about large family life in her book Family At Large – An Entertaining Peek into the Life of a Large Family, first self-published in 2016 and updated in 2024. She later wrote Doing It Well – Walking Through Cancer with Hope after her husband Jim's battle with cancer, providing support to others on similar journeys.

Seventeen years after the removal of her brain tumour, Joanne faced new challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Jim’s cancer diagnosis. Although Jim’s leg was saved, the cancer spread to his lungs, and despite their prayers, he eventually passed away. Joanne turned to writing as a means of coping, leading to her second book, Doing It Well – Walking Through Cancer with Hope, aimed at supporting others through similar hardships. Following these experiences, Joanne felt called to guide others in preparing for the end of life through her business, Organize and Prioritize, helping people declutter and pass on their treasures to the next generation.