Wilma Joyce Pearson

It is with great sadness that the family of Wilma Joyce Pearson of Broadview, Saskatchewan, announce her passing. Joy passed away peacefully at age 88 years, at the Palliative Care Unit in Pasqua Hospital, Regina, SK, surrounded by her loving family.

Although christened Wilma Joyce, everyone who knew her called her Joy and aptly so. She is remembered by everyone for her kindness, charity, positive outlook and joy in life. Her parents, Robert and Jeannie (Maconachie) Clark immigrated from Belfast, North Ireland and established their farm near Corning, Sask. It was on the farm that Joy was born and grew up with her six siblings. She loved to tell stories of the adventures and misadventures they had growing up on the farm. Joy loved to sing, and excelled at Irish dance, winning many concerts as a young girl. Upon finishing high school, she moved to the Northwood District to take a job as a school teacher in Logwood and then Round Lake School District. Walking home from the school one day she met a handsome young man on horseback, and in 1952 was married to the love of her life, Lorne Albert Pearson. They established their farm north of Broadview where they raised three children and still live today.

When her children were school age, Joy started work at Broadview Union Hospital as a Care Aide and worked there for 25 years. She enjoyed caring for people. Many patients still recount how kind she was and staff recall how hard she worked and how she made work fun. After retiring from the hospital, she and Lorne became caretakers at Camp O’Neill Youth Camp in Qu’Appelle Valley and made the camp beautiful for 10 years. The grandkids loved visiting grandma and grandpa at the camp. Many special memories were made. Joy loved her home on the farm and took such pride in her garden, flowers and yard. As soon as anyone stopped by for a visit, they were served the delicious homemade food and baking that Joy was known for and shared so freely. She had a close, loving relationship with each of her grandchildren and they all remember how much fun she had with them, always willing to try anything. No matter how old she got, she would still hit a ball and run around the bases!

Joy will be sadly missed by her loving husband of 66 years, Lorne Pearson and their children, Dianne (Gord) Pattison, Bonnie (Ron) McKay, and Clark (Deborah) Pearson. She will also be lovingly remembered by her eight grandchildren, Kevin, Michael, and Anita Pattison, Austin, Maddison, and Letitia McKay, Waylan and Leland Pearson; by her brother, Norman Clark, by her special friend, Sandra Charbonneau, by her seven great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Joy was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Jeannie Clark, sisters Eileen Clark, Donalda Argue, Jean Cantrill, and brothers James Clark, and Jack Clark.

A private service of remembrance will be held at a later date, with interment at Percival Cemetery.

Donations in Joy’s memory may be made to the Palliative Care Unit, 200 – 2150 Scarth Street, Regina, SK S4P 2H7 (www.caringheartssk.ca).