Born August 14th, 1936 and left us June 3rd, 2014 after a short hospital stay which ended in a late diagnosis of liver and lung cancer. Joyce left this earthly home with her husband Gerald, Daughters Cindy and Leona, son Gerald by her side, encouraging her throughout the toughest journey we, as humans go thru to leave this place. We as her family encouraged her to go..it was ok, we loved her and we would “see her when we get there”.
Joyce leaves to mourn her loss, a husband of 57 years Gerald. Daughters Cindy and children Ben (deceased June 12, 2011), Amanda, Sarah and Jeff..her husband AI...Leona and children Lindsay, Carrie and Brian. Son Gerald and children Tyler and Graydon..and wife Brenda, so many great grandkids and people she loved dearly and became very close to...she seemed to draw people in by her smile, kindness, and giving heart. She loved the people she met at Mothers Time Off a program she attended and later helped lead... those were her ”girls“ as she would put it. Anyone she met that was in need, she seemed to adopt and try to help out...She cared greatly about her family and friends and mourned as family and friends passed before her...She moved to Terrace after marrying Gerald in 1957 she promised she would stay for a year...and as a bit of a pioneer for a time lived at the north end of Lava Lake on a raft which housed their trailer...docked at the lakeside she encountered many interesting things..including losing a pair of blue jeans after retreating to the trailer for a moment and coming back outside to continue washing...she could not find them...she thought she was losing her mind...but some time later they were found...where a bear had decided to make them into its bed...
On another day as she was resting and reading..she noticed trees moving by....as she gazed out the window...finally realizing that trees don’t move, she realized the raft had broken loose and was drifting towards a river...all was well. She was retrieved...So many stories we could tell.
She fell in love with Terrace and its people and although feeling terribly homesick at times, made this wonderful place her home.
She loved her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren...so much...she couldn’t get enough of them...they made her smile and she was always there to listen and encourage, and yes...she had a feisty side too...
One incident involved beating my brother with a stick of celery after he teased her incessantly...the laughter that continues from that memory is so wonderful..
As her family, we thank each and every one of you for your love, kindness, cards, flowers, food, music, memories, encouragement donations to the Cancer Society and The DR. REM Lee Foundation...we also thank the nursing staff at Mills Memorial Hospital (you made my mom smile she thought you were all amazing) and the support staff from the lab techs to X-ray techs, she appreciated them all.
To Dr. Nanette Fourie and Dr. Jaco Fourie, your openness and caring comfort when we found out moms impending struggle...was cancer...thank you...we appreciated the openness and honesty...and the compassion you showed Dad was so comforting.
There are too many to thank individually, but thank you so very much for all you did. To celebrate her life, a Garden Party was held at her home, with music from friends...Renee, Jim and Helen, Lola, everyone who participated...it was everything she wanted.
To those who travelled from afar...to come before Mom passed and who came to the memorial...we loved seeing you all and it meant a lot to all of us.
Thank you to René Lucier & René Therrien for you music at the hospital. The great-grandkids danced and Mom smiled, some of us sang. And most of us held back tears.
Thank You Everyone. We Love You All