Jo Anne Cedar graduated the University of Windsor’s BScN nursing program in 1980, a moment that reflects the early beginnings of her lifelong commitment to care and community. (SUBMITTED BY THE CEDAR FAMILY/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
For Jo Anne Cedar, nursing was never just a career — it was her identity.
A new scholarship established by the Cedar family at the University of Windsor Faculty of Nursing will ensure that the legacy of Cedar (BScN ’80, BA ’81) and her lifelong commitment to caring for others will continue to shape future generations of nurses.
The Jo Anne Cedar R.N. Scholarship will provide annual financial support to nursing students facing financial barriers, with special consideration given to single parents. For Cedar’s daughters, Karen and Kimberley, the award is more than a tribute — it is a way to transform her values of compassion, perseverance and service into opportunities for others.
“If we can help even one person each year achieve their goals and become a nurse, that’s the greatest gift we can give her memory,” said Kimberly.
As a single mother raising two young daughters, she decided to pursue a dream she had held since childhood. When her youngest daughter began school, she enrolled at UWindsor, balancing family responsibilities, financial challenges and full-time studies to earn her bachelor of science in nursing and her bachelor of arts in psychology.
That determination launched a career that would span 44 years.
Cedar worked in private duty care, long-term care and community health, spending the latter part of her career with SE Health. Throughout her career, patients and colleagues knew her as a nurse who always put people first.
Her daughters discovered letters, cards and notes expressing gratitude from patients whose lives she touched over the decades.
“She would never sacrifice quality care,” said Karen. “If a patient needed more time, she gave them more time. That was simply who she was.”
Her dedication never wavered. Even in her 70s, when friends and family encouraged her to retire, Cedar refused.
Many patients came to view Cedar as part of their family, a testament to the empathy, trust and dedication that defined her work.
After Cedar’s passing, her family began reflecting on how to honour a woman whose impact extended far beyond her own family.
They were struck by how the process of closing an estate can feel like erasing a loved one. Determined to keep Cedar’s legacy alive, they looked for a way to honour her memory and continue the work that was so important to her.
The University of Windsor was a natural choice. It was the institution that helped Cedar achieve her dream and launch a career she loved, and where future nurses are now preparing to make their own impact.
The family hopes the scholarship will help remove barriers for students pursuing careers in nursing and encourage them to follow the path they feel called to pursue.
“Financial barriers shouldn’t prevent the right people from entering the profession they’re meant to be in,” Kimberley said. “Our mom found her purpose in nursing. We want to help someone else find theirs.”
Beyond supporting students financially, the scholarship is intended to cultivate caregivers who share Cedar’s commitment to service.
“We all need to take care of each other,” Karen said. “We’re all in this together.”
Service was a guiding principle throughout Cedar's life. She gave what she could, whenever she could, believing that even small acts of generosity could make a meaningful difference.
Her family believes she would be happy to know that her legacy is now helping future nursing students pursue their goals.
For the Cedar family, that opportunity is what makes the scholarship so meaningful.
“It keeps her memory alive,” said Kimberley. “People will know she was here, that she made a difference, and that her commitment to caring for others continues through the students who follow in her footsteps.”
The first Jo Anne Cedar R.N. Scholarship will be awarded this fall, ensuring that Cedar’s legacy continues to support future nurses for generations to come.
Visit the website to learn more about the Jo Anne Cedar R.N. Scholarship or to contribute to the fund.