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Joyce Barnes Obituary
BARNES, Joyce Helen (nee Dick) February 21, 1939 December 15, 2008 Joyce passed away peacefully Monday morning in the company of Family and Friends. Her amazing life cut short by a second brain tumor. She leaves behind her loving husband Rick, daughters Morag (& Andy Szabo), Sheila (& Tim Brown) step son Tom, Sisters Mary (& Roy Williamson), Winnie (& Ian Bradford), and Nancy (& Tony Fernandes), two grandchildren Rebecca and Jamie, a large number of nieces and nephews and countless friends. Pre-deceased by son Hamish and first husband Jimmie. Joyce left an indelible memory on everyone she ever met. The indomitable charisma and unconquerable determination and spirit made her a delight to be with right to the very end. Humor, generosity, spirit and caring nature endured her to everyone. Born in Glasgow Scotland the forth of five girls. She went into Nursing and enjoyed a fantastic career for over forty years, as a District Midwife in Glasgow, followed by a glorious career as a Nursing Instructor. She also found time to marry and raise 3 wonderful children. She and her family immigrated to Canada in 1987, were she continued to nurse and instruct in her favorite specialty of maternity. After retiring from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2004 she and husband Rick moved to Vancouver Island, making their new life in Ladysmith. Joyce failed retirement by going back to work as part of the teaching faculty at Malaspina University College were she remained right up to the beginning of this month. A truly much loved and respected individual, Joyce will be sorely missed but never forgotten. Services will be held at St. Andrew Presbyterian, 531 Herbert St. Duncan on Monday December 22 at 1:30 p.m. with reception to follow, 518132
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39 Entries
Anne Sineath
February 28, 2011
'Auntie' Joyce as we knew her growing up in Cullin Way was such a lovely, kind, hard working lady.....her legacy lives on in Morag & Sheila x
joyce mcneill
February 21, 2011
such a lovely lady, will never forget our time on the island or the spontaneous throwing of swimsuits and being told to jump in the hot tub,what an experience looking up at the stars and being amazed at how many there were,sadly our loved ones became stars too soon.God bless Aunt Joyce and my soulmate,husband and best friend Danny.
Sheila Brown
February 21, 2011
Happy Birthday Mum, miss you lots xxx
sheila stewart-brown
December 22, 2010
Another year without you - wish I could tell you about the homebirth I attended. Miss you, love you,
Sheila xx
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Morag Szabo
December 29, 2009
Mum,
My inspiration, my hero, my friend. Miss you every day.
Love
Morag
Sheila Stewart-Brown
December 15, 2009
Mum,
Can't believe a year has gone by. Not at day goes by without thinking of your cheery face. Missing you terribly. Work is good, miss our chats. Tim and I are hoping to go to Oz later in the year to see Morag and Co. The kids are doing great; Morag and Andy too!
Love you, Miss you
Sheila
Margaret Duncan
January 27, 2009
Gran Proxy Joyce
My friend, my proxy mum in Canada, my dearest gran P to my boys Ross and glen. the best teacher/mentor I ever had.
The day we spent with you in pallative care, with Morag and Sheila will remain forever in my memory.
Just as you showed me how to live life to the fullest. You showed me how death was not something to fear. We all laughed, we sang, we told stories, when asked by Graeme is there anything you would like Joyce you said " I 'd like a puppy" ... and shortly after that the volunteer visiting dog came to see you, you gave the dog a good rub and a beautiful smile.
You live on within me as long as I and my family live .
I thank you and your wonderful family for sharing you with me. A scottish lass far from home .... and how you were such an important part of my life here.
If I could be only a small part of the woman you are... I will be happy.
When I get my Masters in Education it will be dedicated to your memory, as you always gave me the encouragment to go on.
with much love and respect
Margaret, Graeme, Ross and glen Duncan ( oh and Inu the dog)
Tracey Carr
January 16, 2009
i remember Morag waiting excited for her mum coming over to Australia to visit. When I met Granny Joyce I knew why. Joyce was such a warm,loving woman. Her energy and sense of fun was infectious when she was around. After that first meeting Granny Joyce sent gifts from Canada for my children too. She had a way of making you feel special when you were with her. She will continue to be an inspiration to me.
Marlene Morrison Pryde
January 14, 2009
So sad to hear of 'Auntie' Joyces death, she was a wonderful woman who was an inspiration to many and brought joy, laughter, friendship, comfort and kindness to this world. I have many happy and fond memories of Joyce and her family whom my family met when we all lived on the same street in Barrhead in the 1970s and continued the friendship over the years. Joyce took a great interest in my nursing studies and was such a positive role model. Im sure she will have secured the Head Lecturing Midwife position by now in Heaven! Rest in peace Joyce, with love to her remaining family. Never to be forgotten Marlene x
Alan Paterson
January 14, 2009
Words can't really express the loss we feel at Joyce's passing but perhaps this little poem may convey what she meant to us.
Ode to Joyce
Auntie Joyce, I’ll remember you now and always,
For your fun and your laughter and the love you displayed,
To those all around you, your family and friends,
And to those countless patients oft at their wit’s end!
Your care and compassion they spread far and wide,
From all around Glasgow to BC’s great countryside,
Your skills and your knowledge you shared with emotion,
Patients, students and colleagues all recall your devotion.
For so many lives have been touched by your hands,
Those babes that were born now spread across many lands,
Those inspired by your teaching who now stand in your stead,
And continue to weave your life’s golden thread.
Joyce, to us who are left, you were wife, mother, sister and friend,
In our hearts all you were to us, will live on to the end,
So we’ll always remember your voice and that bright smile on your face,
To us you’ll always be our own Dear “Green Lady” from that “Dear Green Place”
So we bid you farewell and God speed with one voice,
May you find perfect peace, our own Sister Joyce,
We know that you’re now at rest in a much better place,
Filled with great love and happiness and full of God’s grace.
Rest in Peace Auntie Joyce
david morrison
January 9, 2009
'Auntie Joyce' as she was known to me was one of the most kind hearted and warmest persons I have had the pleasure of knowing. I have fantastic memories of being taken Ice Skating with Joyce & Morag at the weekends when I was little. You smile and kindness will live on within me. My thoughts go to all those who loved her, with deepest sympathies. david
Michelle Smith
January 8, 2009
Joyce will be remembered in our hearts as a kind, loving and caring person. She always took great interest in our 3 kids, by showing them kindness through her singing and gentle, cheery conversation. Joyce, the Smith family will miss you, and remember you forever.
Iain Morrison
January 5, 2009
I grew up knowing "Auntie" Joyce as a loving and kind person for whom I'll always have fond memories both her and the whole family in Cullin Way. My heart felt wishes go out to Sheila & Morag....your mother did you proud and made you who you are today.
Lots of Love
Rebecca Garcia
January 2, 2009
I loved you so very very much Grandma Joyce.You were so kind to me, loving, giving, and was a joy to me.I am so very sorry that we could not make the funeral but I must say you will always be kept in our hearts.God Bless you.
Marit Fivelsdal
December 31, 2008
Joyce, you have been such an inspiration to me - with your never-ending humour and positive attitude. My husband and I will always smile and remember you in this beautiful light. Marit Fivelsdal and Jim Weeks.
Yvonne Paterson
December 28, 2008
Thanks for all the happy memories. What a lady! You are and always will be an inspiration to me and many others. God bless Aunt Joyce lots of love your niece Yvonne and the puppies xx
Tammy Macdonald
December 27, 2008
It was an honor to know Joyce. She introduced me to maternity as she was my maternity instructor in nurses training. I admired her knowledge and the way she was with patients and people. I admired her thoughtfulness and humor and have tried to take those qualities and apply them in my own life, both professionally and personally.
Lynn Green
December 27, 2008
I feel so blessed to have been given the gift of knowing such an incredible lady. Her book the Green lady is such a wonderful tribute to her caring and loving spirit and her amazing sense of humour. Sheila and Morag I see her spirit shine brightly through the two of you, and thank Joyce for raising two amazing woman to follow in her gifted foot steps. All my love and best wishes to you and your families.
Alan, Lorna, Jamie, Michael, Sean and Emma Brook
December 26, 2008
Thank you, Granny Stewart, for all the love you gave our family in the ten years that we lived in Canada. Only a special person could have so much love for, and be loved by, so many. We have remembered you often throughout the years and laughed heartily, recallling times spent with you, Morag, Sheila, Ailsa and PC Shiny Buttons. God bless you forever.
Murray & Joanne STEWART
December 25, 2008
We wish we did not live so far away. The passing of a lovely lady who always managed to have a smile and a jolly good laugh even when things we a little tough. We feel privelaged to have had Joyce in our life even from a distance.
Sheila Stewart-Brown
December 24, 2008
I consider myself truly blessed to have had Joyce as a mother, friend and mentor. She has been so kind and generous to me and to others; she always looked for the best in everyone. My goal is to be at least half the woman you were mum.
Love you, God Bless, Sheila, Tim and family
maureen makepeace-dore
December 23, 2008
Joyce brought to those who were fortunate enough to know her, a sense of joy and happiness. No matter what she would go through, she always had a kind word and thought of others.
We have been very fortunate to have such a person as a member of the nursing faculty and the profession of nursing has lost such a
wise and endearing nurse.
Bless you Joyce
Jackie and Bill Walls
December 22, 2008
Rick and family,
Joyce was a very special, caring lady. The world has just become a little bit darker by the passing of such a ray of love and sunshine. She will always hold a special, warm place in our hearts and our memories. Her 'light' will never be extinguished.
Frank & Corean Melnychuk
December 22, 2008
For a Dear Friend Joyce - rest in peace tho' we will all miss your laughter, your kindness & your wisdom. We are better for knowing & loving you.
Sandy Alexander
December 22, 2008
It was an honour and great priviledge to have worked with Joyce. She will be missed by us all. My thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.
Wendy Wagner
December 22, 2008
All that really counts is how we make others feel, and Joyce brought some happiness to everyone she encountered. She simply made this world a better place.
Hayley Morgan
December 21, 2008
I had the privilege of having Joyce as an instructor this past semester. She had such a great sense of humor and my peers and I loved to hear her stories. She brought such positive energy to our class and taught us so much. I will miss her smile and the brightness she brought to the classroom. I am honored to have had her as an instructor. Myself and my peers will miss her dearly. My heart goes out to her family at this time.
Chrissie & John Angus Morrison
December 20, 2008
Joyce,
Wonderful humourous, memories as a dear neighbour, nursing colleague, friend and consultant! Your laughter and love will stay with us forever. With everlasting love and sympathy to Morag, Sheila, Rik and extended famalies. We will miss you, 'Auntie Joyce' - Iain, John Angus, Marlene and David.
Chris A and John Angus Morrison Barrhead, Scotland.
Vivienne Gorick
December 20, 2008
I was deeply saddened to learn of Joyce's death as I had just finished reading her book "The Green Lady". Having trained as a midwife in England I could identify with each story written and had intended to write a letter of appreciation to her. My daughter(Katie McTaggart) met Joyce at Malaspina College and was struck by how kind and helpful she was to a novice teacher. My sincere condolences go to you her family and close friends, she sounds like a very special lady. Viviennne Gorick
Donna Lahana
December 20, 2008
Joyce made such an impact on me in such a short as a fellow instructor. I had a taste of her life in her devoted enthusiasm and her beautiful tenacity, which echoed years of incredible life experiences and stories, for the few months I knew her. She will be dearly missed, and her legend will never be lost.
My condolences to the family and other friends. May God's peace comfort you all...
Linda Shorting
December 19, 2008
I had the priviledge to teach with Joyce in the GNRE Program at Vancouver Island University. She spent many hours with me after class sharing her stories of her work as a midwife, sharing in the birth of her grandchildren and her love of teaching (and haggis!). She was an important mentor and confidente to me as a novice teacher. I treasure my signed copy of her book. My thoughts are with her family and close friends at this difficult time.
Kim Love
December 19, 2008
I met Joyce at Vancouver Island University (Malaspina campus) and had the pleasure to work with her. Memories of Joyce will always bring a smile to my face. Joyce's energetic and positive personality touched many of our students. I will always remember Joyce sending a student to get me from the cardiac floor. I was shocked being a cardiac nurse and her wanting me to go to maternity. Joyce and I ended up spending 4 hours visiting in the emergency waiting room. Joyce told me stores of her children, sisters and growing up. Those 4 hours will always be a special moment in time.
Kim
Mary Anne Moloney
December 19, 2008
What a priviledge to have known Joyce and to have been able to work with her as part of our nursing faculty. She shared her expertise with students with warmth and humour; she made learning fun and inspired students to be passionate about nursing. She will be deeply missed. My heart goes out to her family at this time.
Pat Meyer
December 19, 2008
Rick and family
I only knew Joyce for a short period but was struck by her amazing sense of humour. I remember her bemoaning the fact that the surgeon who operated on her tumor did not remove the neuron that governed ironing clothes. She had me in stitches over that. She will be dearly missed by all of us at Vancouver Island Univeristy.
Julie Gibler
December 19, 2008
Joyce brought our Faculty of Nursing at Vancouver Island University great joy and happiness. She was such an inspiration to us and always was so encouraging and she will be terribly missed.
Tammy Campbell
December 19, 2008
Although I knew Joyce for only a short time (we both were teaching at Vancouver Island University), the impression she left will stay with me forever. Kind, intelligent and with a great wit; this was the Joyce that I was fortunate to know. My heart and warmest thoughts are with Joyce's family.
Sue McDonald
December 19, 2008
Thanks to Joyce for her cheerfulness and humor. I really appreciate Joyce's encouragement as I was finishing the publishing process of my first public children's story. Remembering you always.
Lorna, Mary & George McCrae
December 19, 2008
I shall remember Joyce for her delightful sense of humour which she shared with everyone, for her dedication to her profession and as an author of a wonderful book that I have shared with many gratefull friends. You will be missed and we cherish your legacies.
Jacquie and Ron Stewart
December 19, 2008
I was honoured to know Joyce. She was such a joy to know and be with. Always bubbly and upbeat. Her passing is a shock to us. We can only give our heartfelt sympathy to Rick and her family. In our prayers alway.
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