January 4, 1934 - January 30, 2024
In loving memory ~
It is with full and grateful, yet immensely sad hearts, that we recall the life and witness of Joy Frances Thompson (nee Clare) who passed peacefully at the age of 90, in Salmon Arm BC on January 30, 2024 after a sudden illness. She joins her husband, David Thompson and son, Mark Thompson, along with her parents in the heavenly realms, and is gazing down with love for her daughter, Elisabeth (husband Chris), her four grandchildren, Iliana (husband Jonathan), Aleta, Aeneas, and Tasia, and great granddaughter, Eleanor. She leaves to mourn, her brother Brian (wife Susan) in Maryland and nephews Chris and Craig & their families as well as many extended family, and friends far and wide.
Joy was born on January 4, 1934 in Charing Cross, Westminster England to Reginald and Frances Clare. Following WW2 she received her nursing training at Manchester Royal Infirmary becoming a nursing sister and then visiting nurse and midwife. She immigrated to Canada in 1961, initially working as a midwife and public health nurse in northern Alberta before settling in the Edmonton region after meeting David in the Cathedral choir and getting married on July 6, 1968. She was an amazing mother to Elisabeth and Mark and once they were in school, she began work setting up the structures for what would become the Home Care program for the province of Alberta, Meals on Wheels and Home Health Aid Training programs at the vocational colleges. She worked in home care until her retirement in 1994.
Throughout her life she was a faithful church member, was active member in the ACW, Sunday school teacher, Vestry and Synod member and Lay Reader for her church congregations. She was one of the founding members of the Onoway Library Board, curled, and sang in the community choir and Alberta traveling Opera. She nursed, taught, nurtured, and enlivened too many to count. David and Joy moved to Blind Bay BC in 2002, where they became active members of St. Mary's Anglican Church and volunteers at Sorrento Centre. Together they moved to Salmon Arm in 2016 where she happily resided at the Shuswap Retirement lodge until her recent illness has left us mourning her joyful and yet tenacious spirit, her love and commitment to everything she set her mind upon. She was truly most aptly named- "Joy" in and through all, for all.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. Mary's Anglican/United Church in Sorrento, BC, with interment of ashes in the Memorial Garden at Sorrento Centre on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 1pm.
Please check the Bower's obituary website for funeral details/zoom link for the upcoming service: www.bowersfuneralservice.com
Service Details
1:00 PM