Obituary for Joyce Wallace
Joyce Marjorie Wallace (née Hillier) passed away peacefully on June 27th, surrounded by family.
Joyce was a cherished daughter and sister, beloved wife, loving mother, doting grandmother and great-grandmother, as well as a loving unwavering friend. Joyce is predeceased by her father Harold Hillier, step-mother Sally Hillier, her Aunt Nan and her daughter Laurie. She is survived by her husband Bill, her brothers John (Greta), Gord (Debbie) and her sister Margaret (Derek), her children Grant (Barb), Scott (Loretta), Bruce (Marilena), and Beth (Frannie), her grandchildren Lisa, Karin, Michelle, Patrick, Tim, Emma, Maia, Molly, Liam, Ben, Jasmine and Melanie, as well as her great-grandson, George.
Born in Toronto in 1935, Joyce attended Jarvis Collegiate Institute, where she excelled academically and met her future husband, Bill. She went on to graduate from Physical and Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto in 1955, where she learned many skills and made lifelong friends.
Bill and Joyce married in 1957 and Joyce continued to work until 1959 when she became a mother. Raising a large family became her full-time occupation but, on top of devoting herself to her family, she was committed to many volunteer endeavours.
She was heavily involved with the Burlington Cultural Centre’s annual Art Auction fundraiser and was a part of the Opera Hamilton Guild’s program to take opera into schools and make it accessible to children. To that end, she was involved in operatic puppet shows which were loved by all. For many years, she taught Sunday school at Port Nelson United Church and in later years, Joyce served as a church elder.
For her children and grandchildren, Joyce was always happy to roll up her sleeves and help get a job done. She was a force of nature who could always be relied upon to happily help paint their rooms, weed their gardens or clean the backs of vents.
Joyce loved to travel and spent much time and energy on trips with her family and friends. Joyce travelled to most corners of the world and made lasting friendships. With her family, there were many trips when her children were younger and then many more to visit and spend time with kids and grandkids as they spread out around the globe. Whenever possible, she would be there to watch her grandkids ski, dance, act, graduate or even play the piano in a recital, regardless of how far she had to travel to do so.
With an abounding love of music, art, and theatre, the memories of Joyce singing along to Frank Sinatra, walking through McMichael Art Gallery, and attending Stratford performances will forever be cherished by those close to her.
Joyce was an enthusiastic card player. Whether it was bridge with her friends and Bill at Roseland Club Burlington where they had been members since 1970, solitaire on a cozy weekend at the cottage or building card houses with her grandkids and teaching them how to shuffle, she passed on her
great wealth of knowledge on how to have fun with a deck of cards.
Joyce was a generous and considerate hostess and she constantly looked for ways to increase others’ comfort. She was a crème brûlée connoisseur, an admirer of all fireworks, a wonderful cook and baker of irreplicable blueberry pies as well as shortbread, both gluten and gluten free.
A week and a half ago, Joyce was able to attend a camping breakfast at Bronte Provincial Park; a memory that will be cherished forever.
She will be loved and never forgotten.
Our plans for two visitations, then a funeral service and reception with more visiting have been dropped due to Covid risks, which might have forced many friends not to attend.
Visitation and reception gatherings are the time for hugs, reminiscing and close contact with grieving friends.
Given this, we will just be having a small family service following cremation.
Then, for all friends and family together, a “safe for hugs” gathering to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held as soon as Covid risks permit.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your favourite charity.
Joyce was a cherished daughter and sister, beloved wife, loving mother, doting grandmother and great-grandmother, as well as a loving unwavering friend. Joyce is predeceased by her father Harold Hillier, step-mother Sally Hillier, her Aunt Nan and her daughter Laurie. She is survived by her husband Bill, her brothers John (Greta), Gord (Debbie) and her sister Margaret (Derek), her children Grant (Barb), Scott (Loretta), Bruce (Marilena), and Beth (Frannie), her grandchildren Lisa, Karin, Michelle, Patrick, Tim, Emma, Maia, Molly, Liam, Ben, Jasmine and Melanie, as well as her great-grandson, George.
Born in Toronto in 1935, Joyce attended Jarvis Collegiate Institute, where she excelled academically and met her future husband, Bill. She went on to graduate from Physical and Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto in 1955, where she learned many skills and made lifelong friends.
Bill and Joyce married in 1957 and Joyce continued to work until 1959 when she became a mother. Raising a large family became her full-time occupation but, on top of devoting herself to her family, she was committed to many volunteer endeavours.
She was heavily involved with the Burlington Cultural Centre’s annual Art Auction fundraiser and was a part of the Opera Hamilton Guild’s program to take opera into schools and make it accessible to children. To that end, she was involved in operatic puppet shows which were loved by all. For many years, she taught Sunday school at Port Nelson United Church and in later years, Joyce served as a church elder.
For her children and grandchildren, Joyce was always happy to roll up her sleeves and help get a job done. She was a force of nature who could always be relied upon to happily help paint their rooms, weed their gardens or clean the backs of vents.
Joyce loved to travel and spent much time and energy on trips with her family and friends. Joyce travelled to most corners of the world and made lasting friendships. With her family, there were many trips when her children were younger and then many more to visit and spend time with kids and grandkids as they spread out around the globe. Whenever possible, she would be there to watch her grandkids ski, dance, act, graduate or even play the piano in a recital, regardless of how far she had to travel to do so.
With an abounding love of music, art, and theatre, the memories of Joyce singing along to Frank Sinatra, walking through McMichael Art Gallery, and attending Stratford performances will forever be cherished by those close to her.
Joyce was an enthusiastic card player. Whether it was bridge with her friends and Bill at Roseland Club Burlington where they had been members since 1970, solitaire on a cozy weekend at the cottage or building card houses with her grandkids and teaching them how to shuffle, she passed on her
great wealth of knowledge on how to have fun with a deck of cards.
Joyce was a generous and considerate hostess and she constantly looked for ways to increase others’ comfort. She was a crème brûlée connoisseur, an admirer of all fireworks, a wonderful cook and baker of irreplicable blueberry pies as well as shortbread, both gluten and gluten free.
A week and a half ago, Joyce was able to attend a camping breakfast at Bronte Provincial Park; a memory that will be cherished forever.
She will be loved and never forgotten.
Our plans for two visitations, then a funeral service and reception with more visiting have been dropped due to Covid risks, which might have forced many friends not to attend.
Visitation and reception gatherings are the time for hugs, reminiscing and close contact with grieving friends.
Given this, we will just be having a small family service following cremation.
Then, for all friends and family together, a “safe for hugs” gathering to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held as soon as Covid risks permit.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your favourite charity.