The military always ran deep in Joan Louise Fredrick’s veins but so too did her love for Bermuda.

Her father, Archibald Lee, came to the island as a soldier and fell in love with her mother, St David’s Islander Laura Fox, while her brothers, Teddy and Jimmy, both served in the Bermuda Rifles.

She followed in their footsteps and went on to to serve in the Women’s Canadian Royal Air Force during the Second World War, tracking enemy ship and troop movements in the Pacific.

Today Mrs Fredrick’s family will gather for a graveside service at the Chapel of Ease in St David’s where her ashes will be laid to rest with those of her husband and her two brothers.

“Joan was very positive in her approach to life, always willing to travel to new places and participate in adventures,” her sister-in-law, Mary Morris, said.

“Hurricanes and winter storms in Bermuda, Florida, and North Carolina she took in her stride and was resilient in dealing with the damages caused.

“Electricity cuts and taking showers with buckets of water became a challenge to be tackled with laughter and jokes.”

Ms Fredrick was born in the Channel Islands on November 12, 1921.

The family travelled extensively as part of her father’s career but they made their final home in Bermuda when Mr Lee retired from the British army.

Mrs Fredrick started her military training by working in the Signals Office in St George’s before joining the Women’s Canadian Royal Air Force, together with several other ladies from Bermuda.

She travelled to Vancouver in 1942 and her role during the two years in British Columbia was to monitor and track friendly plus enemy ship and troop movements in the Pacific.

When Mrs Fredrick returned to Bermuda after the war she lived with her parents and brothers in St George’s.

She met her husband Freddy Fredrick, an American, through social events held at the St George’s Dinghy Club and the US Kindley Air Force Base.

Her niece, Sue Lee, told The Royal Gazette: “Joan enjoyed parties and dancing, plus she was an avid card player, particularly the games of cribbage and poker, often to the detriment of her adversaries as she gave them a sweet smile while taking their money.”

Mr and Mrs Fredrick married on August 26, 1946 at St Peter’s Church and lived in St George’s. Their daughter, Cindy, was born on November 25, 1951 and the family stayed in Bermuda until January 1963 when Mr Fredrick was transferred to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

After her husband’s death in 1970 and the marriage of her daughter in 1980, Mrs Fredrick relocated to Florida to be near the beach and to enjoy warmer weather. She later moved to North Carolina after a short period in Myrtle Beach to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren.

Ms Lee added: “At 80 plus Joan enjoyed life to the fullest flirting and dancing with the minister at her granddaughter’s wedding. She has five great-grandchildren who will remember Nana Joan with love and admiration.”

Mrs Fredrick died on August 26, last year in North Carolina at the age of 93.

Mrs Morris added: “Joan always planned on returning to Bermuda which she considered to be her home.”