Joyce Beatrice (Donnelly) Davies

If anyone ever cared, really cared for someone else it would have to be Joyce Beatrice Davies. She was a warm-hearted and well-liked individual, and these wonderful traits came easily to her because she was such a sociable and amiable person, someone who was always making certain that those around her had whatever they needed.

Joyce was born on Tuesday, January 1, 1924. She was the daughter of Frank and Ellen (Nellie) Donnelly. She had one older sister, Reta (Farrell), and two younger brothers, Frank and Gerry. As a child she always enjoyed playing with her dolls. She had a special little trunk for her dolls that she treasured and kept them under lock and key. During her childhood she learned to be reliable and respectful.

In high school Joyce met Harold at the skating rink behind his home and they fell in love. At the age of 16 she committed to Harold and they were soon engaged before he left for the war. She was only 16 but she waited for him to return home in 1945. They were married on December 11, 1945 and started a family. They had 3 children, Jim, Lianne and Sandra.

She seemed to be able to start a project and work right through to its completion. And she was able to do it quickly and efficiently.

She could pretty much talk to anybody about anything. While growing up, some of her best friends were Audrey Richards, Joyce DiPietro, Anna Dionisi, Babs Corbett, Jessie Evans, Jean McDonald, and the rest of the Pim Hill Bullets gang. Later in life her friends included Don and Jo Leask, Bill and Isabel Sullivan, Jack and Joan Shuttleworth, Georgie and Jim Springgay, Don and Lois Jeffrey. She enjoyed the company of her neighbours and relatives and loved to entertain with some of her favourite home-made meals of spaghetti and meatballs, roast beef with yorkshire pudding, or take-out from the Hong Kong restaurant or Giovanni's. Joyce enjoyed company and was always happy to put on a pot of tea or serve you a drink. She enjoyed her "happy hour" as she called it. Her cocktail hour always included a Blue Light and snacking on chips or peanuts. She looked forward to the weekly flyers which she perused and made her list of specials. Then she would be set for her next shopping spree. She also enjoyed receiving the Sault Star every day and mastering their crossword puzzles. She would always be up on the current news and fashions.

Some would even call her sentimental and a romantic at heart. Her kindness and consideration radiated an aura of warmth to those around her.

They were also blessed with five grandchildren, Thomas, Michael, Sandra, Brian and Alexander. She always enjoyed their visits and was very thoughtful when it came to celebrating their birthdays. Christmas was always a special time for family get togethers. The grandchildren always got a laugh from her odd sayings and expressions: "not one iota", "hold your horses", "hotter than Hades", "no two ways about it".

       She was what some would call a “people person” and it was demonstrated in her good communication skills. Joyce was caught skipping school by her mother so she was told that if she wasn't going to school then she had better get a job. She started working as an usherette at the Orpheum Theatre. She enjoyed working at the theatre as she got to watch the latest movies for free. Later, she worked in the lab at Algoma Steel Corporation in quality control. She then worked at Hall's Bakery where she drove the truck and delivered bread. She spent most of her working career as a retail sales clerk at Eaton’s and Walker’s Department Stores. She brought harmony to her work environment, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done, while always maintaining respect for her colleagues.

       She had no problem following all of the steps and instructions on a given project and was proud of the fact that she could have something to show for her efforts. Her friends and family appreciated her talents as a hairdresser as Joyce was known for perming and setting their hair. She also enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, dice games, shuffleboard, darts, all things challenging and fun! As a game player, she enjoyed going to the casino and unveiling scratch tickets. She would even dabble in the stock market and watched the financial reports daily. She enjoyed baking: apple pies, butter tarts, cookies and sticky buns with Harold. At Christmas, it was Christmas fruit cake, carrot pudding with caramel sauce, and meat pies. All the traditions passed down from her mother.

During her high school years, Joyce played hockey and the women’s team became famously known as the Pim Hill Bullets. She was frequently referred to as "Chum" by her teammates. Joyce really loved playing all sports. She enjoyed golf, bowling, badminton, cross-country skiing. She was happy to pick up a racquet, bat, or ball and glove, and play with her grandchildren. She even broke her finger while playing catch with her grandson, Michael. Joyce loved to dance, especially the jitterbug and jive. In her early years she was a member of a dance group called the Rockettes. Top on her list of favourite sports to watch on tv was baseball. Harold watching and cheering on the Toronto Blue Jays got her interested and she became an avid fan. She got to know all of the players by name.

Religion and faith were important to her. She was baptized in John Wesley United Church and followed that faith. She was a member of the ladies' auxillary for a few years but did not attend church on a regular basis. She was well respected because she was such an outgoing individual who sought to help in any manner she could.

       She was a facilitator who could easily make up a near perfect schedule of all of the things to do and see. She rarely tired of going back and revisiting her favorite places. When going on vacation, she enjoyed short trips to Michigan and visiting such places as the Silver Dome in Wisconsin. Her favourite get-away was always a visit to Sandra's summer place in Alanson where she loved to shop and play cards with her daughters. She enjoyed her trips to Florida to visit with Harold's brother, Reg, and his wife, Dorritt. One special vacation was when Harold took Joyce overseas to visit some of the places where he served during World War II. They flew overseas with Reg and Dorritt to her birthplace of Denmark and then they went on to England and Paris, but mostly she loved and enjoyed sitting on her deck in her own backyard. She loved the song “Back In My Own Backyard.”.

       Joyce and family had a husky shepherd while growing up, which they named Cap, and, later in life, she had a brown poodle named Cocoa. Bell Canada transferred Harold to Toronto and they moved into an apartment in High Park. As pets were not allowed, Joyce had to give Cocoa to her sister, Reta, to look after.

   Joyce fought a brave battle against lung cancer, but ultimately had a fall, sustaining a broken hip and fractured right wrist which put her into hospice. She is survived by her children Jim, Lianne, and Sandra; her grandchildren Tom, Mike, Sandra, Brian, and Alex; 10 great grandchildren, and her brothers Frank and Gerry. Services were held at Arthur Funeral Home from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2018. Revered Zub officiated. Eulogies were given by grandson, Tom George, and son, Jim. Under sunny skies, next to her husband, Harold, Joyce was laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, on Feb. 8, 2018.

       And whenever she said something, she meant it. She was without question the type of person who enjoyed experiencing things first hand. She was practical and sensible, but what friends and family will remember her for most is the fact that she was so understanding and kind. Everyone whose life she touched will miss Joyce Beatrice Davies.

“Those we love don’t go away. They walk beside us every day; unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed and very dear. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

DAVIES, Joyce (nee Donnelly) - Peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday February 2, 2018 at the age of 94. Beloved wife of the late Harold. Dear mother of Jim (Brenda), Lianne Masson (Brent) and Sandra Turpin (Rick). Loving grandmother of Alex Davies, Tom George (Karyn), Michael George (Tara), Sandra George (Jeff Elliott) and Brian Turpin (Kylie). Great grandmother of 10. Sister of the late Reta Farrell (late Fred), Frank Donnelly (Gloralyn) and Gerry Donnelly (late Shirley). Also missed by many nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to visit at the Arthur Funeral Home - Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington St. E., Sault Ste. Marie, ON) on Wednesday February 7, 2018 from 5:30-6:30pm. Funeral service to follow in the chapel at 7pm. Rev. Dr. David Zub officiating. Contributions in memoriam of Joyce Davies to A.R.C.H. would be greatly appreciated. Special thank you to Mavis Nott, Richard Watson, Dr. Alan McLean and the staff and volunteers at ARCH for their care and compassion.

Joyce's grandson, Thomas George, presented the following speech at her funeral.

Wow, it is so awesome to see everyone here. Joyce or as I call her Gram, would be so honored and happy to know that so many people came to see her off, although she wouldn’t like all the fussing over her. She was the most resilient upbeat and positive person you could ever want to meet. She had to be, she had to keep up to Harold for 68 years. The relationship she had with Harold was one to be modeled after. She played hockey for the Pim Hill Bullets, loved to dance the jitterbug and loved being serenaded by Harold. Alright maybe not, but he did it anyway. But even as her health was declining she maintained her witty humor and positivity.

Her fear of storms was one that would have us all hiding under beds, in closets, staying 10 feet away from the windows, doors and phones. You would have thought it was the end of the world as we knew it and if she had a bunker she probably would have been in it.

Gram loved to socialize and enjoyed entertaining. Her door was always open to her friends and family to sit and have a beer and there was always the Hors d’oeuvres hour before dinner. She always thought she was part Irish and would wear green on St. Patrick’s Day and had to have her green beer. One of the greatest days of my life was to finally sit on Gram’s couch and have a beer with her.

As grandkids we will always remember the sticky buns, the meat pies, the family reunions, get togethers and the big spaghetti meals, not to mention the bibs that everyone had to wear. It took me 20 years to realize that waiting 30 minutes after eating before swimming and watching the temperature on the television until it reached 21o was her tactic to keep us at bay and “Hold our Horses” until she was ready to take us swimming at Uncle John’s pool. Try to guess what our Christmas present was from the riddle she would write on the tag. Playing pool or darts at the legion. She gave new meaning to the word gutter ball in bowling. But nothing was more special than the extra effort she made on birthdays to have a cake, all the candles and sing the full rendition of happy birthday.

As we reminisce about the memories of Gram, we need to smile because she lived such a good life. She loved her family, it was everything to her. See, Gram was brought up in an era of traditional family values where family came first, you were honest, worked hard and respected others. Values that continue to be passed down to our children and hopefully down to theirs.

And in the true spirit of her values I would like to thank each of you for coming today to pay your respects.

Although you will be missed Gram, you will be our angel in the sky and will be forever with us in our hearts. We will cherish the memories, will continue your traditions and pass on your values.

And don’t worry Gram, “No more tears”!

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DAVIES, Joyce (nee Donnelly) - Peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday February 2, 2018 at the age of 94. Beloved wife of the late Harold. Dear mother of Jim (Brenda), Lianne Masson (Brent) and Sandra Turpin (Rick). Loving grandmother of Alex Davies, Tom George (Karyn), Michael George (Tara), Sandra George (Jeff Elliott) and Brian Turpin (Kylie). Great grandmother of 10. Sister of the late Reta Farrell (late Fred), Frank Donnelly (Gloralyn) and Gerry Donnelly (late Shirley). Also missed by many nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to visit at the Arthur Funeral Home - Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington St. E., Sault Ste. Marie, ON) on Wednesday February 7, 2018 from 5:30-6:30pm. Funeral service to follow in the chapel at 7pm. Rev. Dr. David Zub officiating. Contributions in memoriam of Joyce Davies to A.R.C.H. would be greatly appreciated. Special thank you to Mavis Nott, Richard Watson, Dr. Alan McLean and the staff and volunteers at ARCH for their care and compassion.