Joyce Evelyn Mackenzie

Joyce passed away peacefully surrounded by her son, daughters and grandchildren, all singing to her on 23 December 2025 at Hospice. Joyce was born August 26, 1934 to Jim and Lyla Huxtable in Oshawa Ontario where she grew to adulthood. She was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Donald Mackenzie.

Joyce met Don while at a summer school outdoor recreation program. They moved to Peterborough from East York in 1961 where they taught school with the PCBE and raised three children. Joyce is survived by her sister Donna Bourne (husband Robert), her son Ian Mackenzie (wife Tanya) and daughters Louise Mackenzie (McGrath) and Janice Mackenzie all of whom reside in the Peterborough area. Also surviving Joyce are grandchildren Bruce and Edward Mackenzie, Benjamin, Alex, and Maddy McGrath, Annie and Liam Ross, and great granddaughters Theodora and Athena Brandstrup-Nielsen of Denmark.

Joyce and Don bought a cottage on Lake Weslemkoon east of Bancroft in 1958, shocking to their friends and family since at the time they were living in a small East York apartment and didn’t yet own a home. They were both very involved in the Lake Association right from the get go, and that commitment to the lake and environs has been passed to their children and grandchildren. Their wise foresight to buy a cottage at such a young age has been proven over the years as has become a very special place for her family to gather. Her last visit was at Thanksgiving 2025, leaving amid the most beautiful sunset.

Joyce taught elementary school in Peterborough area schools, with most of her teaching time spent at Ridpath DPS in Lakefield and King George PS in Peterborough. Along the way she went back to school and achieved a Master of Education from Trent University which she has admired and supported since. In retirement she ran for Trustee and served for 9 years, asking hard questions and doing her research on every issue. Her last foray into Education was with her close friend Brenda, when they became “Reading Grannies” for a few years at Warsaw PS when her daughter Janice was the Principal there. It goes without saying that Joyce was a staunch supporter of public education.

Joyce moved from her home at Mackenzie Tree Farm in 2006 to a condo in Peterborough, then to Lakefield, and finally to Princess Gardens Retirement Residence in 2022. She enjoyed the community at PG both before and after her major stroke in October 2023. The stroke severely curtailed her physical activities but didn’t dampen her enthusiasm for life, good books supplied by Tucker at By the Books, visits from family and friends, music with Tim on the 3rd floor, concerts in the atrium, happy hour and other festive celebrations. The family is so thankful for each of Joyce’s “minders” as she called them. Their care and attention for Joyce was noticed by family and oft talked about. Special shout outs go to: Juanita who kept her room in tip top shape, Mary, Emily, Steph, Shannon, and Mary Anne who kept her well fed, Rumi & Kamna, Karen, Sarah, Carm, Olu, Sam and Megan who went the extra mile with her personal care, and Jen and Nikki who ran exercises and happy hour - they never had limes for her G&T but she loved them just the same.

Joyce placed a very high value on her friendships which she nurtured over her 91 years. She was a part of many friend groups such as the adventurous “Canoeskis” who skied and paddled together, the “Opulent Decadent Society” who were made up of staff from her first school, the “Biker Babes” who cycled around Southern Ontario together, the “Clerisy” book club who would read about an interesting place and then travel there together, the Lakefield Curling Club ladies league where she took on the Presidency for a time, the “Jubilaires” and “Jubilation” choirs which brought her great joy, the Jamaican Self Help charity which she later published a book about, the Canadian Ski Patrol where she and Don were instrumental in the patrol first at Devil’s Elbow and later at Kawartha Nordic, and the “Warsaw Wackos” women’s hockey team - to name a few.

Over the years Joyce embarked on countless adventures in Canada and across the world with various friends and family. She paddled countless lakes and rivers, with a stand out trip being the Nahani River. She trekked across the Serengeti and up Mt Kilimanjaro, traveled through Kingston Jamaica with other JSH volunteers in crowded buses, gone up many a gondola on ski trips, ventured out on a camel in Inner Mongolia where book club members camped out in the desert, meandered through Bejing streets in rickshaw, and walked many, many steps in Machu Picchu in her 80s. Joyce was intrepid.

Joyce is widely admired for her dedication to her family, her love and care for the environment (she and Don helped to found “Scot’s Plains Recycling” in the 70’s), for the arts and education, and of course for her fierce determination and unbending resolve. She was forthright and outspoken, incredibly smart and well read. Correcting pronunciation was a quiet passion. She wanted the best for her family but also held them to a high standard. She was the guide for the family and a mentor to many. Joyce passed a spark and zeal for life to those around her. She will be greatly missed.

Joyce’s family invite friends and relatives to join them in a celebration of life for Joyce at Comstock Funeral Home, Peterborough on Tuesday December 30th, from 1 - 4pm, with remembrances beginning at 2:30. In lieu of flowers donations are encouraged to Hospice Peterborough in her name.