Elizabeth Joyce SCULLY

Elizabeth Joyce Scully
(nee Edwards)

Passed peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of July 11, 2015 in her 102nd year. Predeceased by her beloved husband and life companion, Hugh Ballard Scully; her brother, Douglas Edwards (Lois); and her sister, Muriel Graham (George). Loving and devoted mother to Dr. Hugh Edwards Scully (Vanessa Harwood), Peter Ballard Scully (Alison MacLeod) and Justice Brian Muir Scully (Collette Robert), Joyce held a special place in her heart for former daughters-in-law, Anne Johnston and Jane Corkin. Adoring and adored grandmother (Gommie) to Laura (Louis Joncas), Alexa, Shannon, Douglas, Katharine and Michelle; and great-grandmother to Philippe, Sophie, Anne-Marie and Patrick. With the untimely passing of her sister, Muriel, Joyce became surrogate mother and grandmother to Kenneth and Douglas Graham and their families.
  Born November 6, 1913, in Edmonton, Alberta to William Muir and Edna Evelyn (nee Douglas) Edwards, Joyce was the third sibling to brother Douglas and sister Muriel. Her father, William, was one of the five founding professors of the University of Alberta. Sadly, William succumbed to influenza and passed away in the epidemic of 1918, while caring for the aboriginal community so devastated by that disease. With his death, Evelyn and her young family moved to Ottawa to live with her mother, Anne Elizabeth Douglas (nee Parker). Joyce's paternal grandmother was Henrietta Muir Edwards, one of the 'Famous Five' women who successfully litigated the 'Persons' case establishing women as persons under the laws of Canada and member countries of the Commonwealth. Born and raised in Montreal, Henrietta moved with her husband, Dr. Oliver Cromwell Edwards to Alberta where Dr. Edwards established his practice with a focus on the care of aboriginal patients. Henrietta travelled often to Ottawa in furtherance of her advocacy on behalf of women and children and, on those occasions, Joyce became very close to her grandmother. Grandmothers Douglas and Edwards instilled in Joyce, as a girl and young woman, a deep sense of morality, integrity and belief in equality that would inform her path and decisions throughout her life.
  Joyce, Gommie, was a gracious, kind and loving woman. Passionate about social justice, she inspired generations of her family with her commitment, support and positive nature. The warmth of her smile and the generosity of her spirit will live on in our hearts.
  A celebration of Joyce's life will be held Thursday, July 30, 2015 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home and Chapel, 467 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, phone number 416-924-1408.
  The Scully family would like to thank the administration and staff of the Amica Balmoral residence who provided such wonderful, compassionate and loving care to Joyce for the past fourteen years.
  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Hospital for Sick Children or a charity of your choice.