A great lady, Joyce, beloved wife of James for 53 years, passed away peacefully on Monday October 20th, 2008 at the age of 81. She leaves to mourn her loving husband James, children Robert, Catherine (and Raymond), and Mary (and Patrick), grandchildren Joseph, Ada, and Aiden, brother Wilfred, sisters-in-law Pauline and Sadie, and many extended family members and friends. She was predeceased by her brothers David and Stanley and her sister-in-law Gwenneth. She will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed.
Joyce, the only daughter of John and Sarah, was born on a farm near Baldur, Manitoba. She grew up with a love of learning, a passion for helping others, and an adventurous spirit. After attending Antonious and Baldur High School she became a registered nurse, graduating from The Royal Victoria Hospital School of Nursing in Montreal in 1949 and later with a Public Health Nursing Diploma from McGill University in 1952. She joined the Indian Health Services and lived and worked in isolated spots in northern Canada, often as the first or only community nurse. Her traveling involved walking, dog team and flying.
She met her future husband at Big Trout Lake, Ontario. She married in 1955 and had three children by 1961. In 1965, after moving to Toronto with her growing family, she continued to work in the nursing field and eventually took a position as a Public Health Nurse with the Borough of North York Health Department. In 1974 Joyce and her family moved to Edmonton. She gradually withdrew from nursing in the 1980’s and became a stay-at-home wife. In 1990 Joyce retired with her husband to an acreage near Salmon Arm, B.C.
A Celebration Service will be held Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Fischer’s Funeral Services & Crematorium, 4060-1st Avenue SW, Salmon Arm with Pastor Norm Russell officiating. Interment follows at Mt. Ida Cemetery and then all are welcome to attend a reception at the family home. If desired, donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Society of B.C. in Joyce’s name. Arrangements entrusted to FISCHER’S FUNERAL SERVICES & CREMATORIUM LTD., Salmon Arm (250) 833-1129. E-mail condolences may be sent to fischers@sunwave.net.