Joyce Mary Smearer

Joyce Mary Smearer (nee Glidden) 74 years of age and formerly of Bathurst, New Brunswick, passed away on July 7th, 2012, after a short but courageous battle with cancer, in Edmonton, Alberta surrounded by all her children.

She was born in Bathurst, New Brunswick on May 22, 1938 where she attended Holy Family School.

Joyce is survived by her siblings, Thelma and Byron (Velma); her children, Glen (Ramona), Donna, Dean (Heather), Gail (Jeff), Colleen (Dan), Susan (Gary) and Tanya (Neil); several nieces and nephews; 11 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her father, Walter; mother, Hilda (nee Hadley); her brothers, Glen, James and Hadley; sisters, Norma, Ann and Shirley; and by her daughter, Carol.

Friends are invited to join the family at South Calgary Funeral Centre for a visitation on Thursday, July 12, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Bonaventure Catholic Church, Calgary, on Friday, July 13, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.

Donations in memory of Joyce can be made to the Cross Cancer Institute, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1Z2.

On behalf of the family we would like to thank all the care givers, who provided loving care and quality of life for our dear Mother.

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EULOGY - by Dean Smearer

We are pleased to celebrate the life and the time on earth of an extraordinary lady, our Mother, Joyce Mary Glidden Smearer!

Not only was she our loving and caring Mother, she was also our pillar of strength , a great mentor, a loving educator of life and a woman who taught it’s better to give than it is to receive.

What can we say about our great Mama, our true friend, our Mentor of life! Mama raised a large loving family of eight kids - two boys, Glen and Dean and six girls, Donna, Carole, Gail, Willy, Sue and Tanya. Mom raised all of her kids to love one another, be courteous, friendly to others and most of all caring individuals to the others around us and especially to those less fortunate.

She taught us that if you have “Family” then there is no problem too big or small that we cannot get through together. She always made time for each child and their concerns.

A small story about our brother Glen:

There was a little boy, no more than 10 years old, running a fever, who got up to deliver his Montreal Gazette Newspapers for his customers, on a very cold, heavy snowfall, humid Winter day! His Mother made sure he was dressed up to complete his journey! He went his way delivering the papers and it got harder and harder to complete the task as he got colder and colder! But he persevered and got the job done and, disoriented from being frozen, his Mother appeared and wrapped herself around the little boy and got him home safe and sound! His Mother had followed the little boy the entire way, not wanting to stop her responsible little man from completing his duty, but making sure nothing would go wrong to him! That was the day I knew I had the Greatest Mom in the World, that she would be there for me always, and that She LOVED Me! I Love You MOM!

She taught us life and Wisdom through her selfless acts of love and care giving! In 2010 Mom went to aide in her mother’s care along with her sister and brother …. ``Joyce`s Diner`` as it was called by her family, was established in our grandmothers kitchen in Bathurst, NB. She enjoyed every moment she shared while caring and cooking for her mother and family. She got closer with her sister Thelma and her brother Byron after being apart for so long. Mom spent the next year tending to her mother’s health while not tending to her own. She always encouraged each of us to be a better person who helps and cares for the less fortunate. Our Mom was a hard working individual who never thought of herself but always made sure her kids were first in her life. She made sure they were loved and tended too. We always had a small roof over our heads and every place we lived in big or small, fancy or not, she made us a place to call our home.

She always made sure we were dressed properly, tucked our shirts in, hair was combed and we always had on clean underwear “as you never know what might happen during the day” she would say. Mom worked hard to provide for us and to dress all of us kids. She would buy so many clothes that the clothing company actually assigned a sales rep to visit her 4 times per year which was once for every season. She wouldn’t just buy a shirt or a pair of pants but rather a wardrobe for each kid for that time of year. Then she would work two sometimes three jobs to pay for it all. They loved her business. We loved our new clothes – God bless her.

While we were dressed well for the season at hand, she would sacrifice the things she needed so we would not go without. Her selfless acts of love and care giving is one of the strengths we all admire about our Mother. All of us kids remember Mom digging deep into her worn out purse just to find us her last dime, so we could get on the bus and get to school. If she found more than a dime then she would make sure you had a little extra money for milk or a drink at the school cafeteria.

When times got tough, Mama would say, “Keep your head up and have faith in the Lord above”. He will get you through this – “One Day at a Time”!

She taught us the lessons of life and how to be a better person in the world we live in! A lesson we all take to heart today. She taught us how to forgive and how to turn the other cheek during times of despair. She raised all of her kids to be loving, courteous, friendly and most of all caring individuals to the others around us or near. She taught us the lessons of life and how to be a better person in the world we live in! She taught us how to forgive and how to turn the other cheek! Forgive rather than hold a grudge!

A few months ago, Mama was diagnosed with colon cancer and it was already in advanced stage 4 as it had made its way to her liver. When we heard about the cancer we were all very upset and angry about the fact it was happening to our Mother. All she did during her celebrated life was to give unconditional love to others and we watched as she did this asking for nothing in return. In a few short months, we witnessed how her health had deteriorated. But her friendly spirit was always there ensuring us that everything will work out fine and that we were all loved as her children. Her love never stopped. While we were crying she would be tending to us rather than herself. She made sure that she spent a little time with each of her kids to ensure we knew that we were loved by her and through this we found the strength to get us to where we are today.

Celebrating the life of the greatest woman in our lives - our Mother “Joyce”…

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POEM

To Those I Love And To Those Who Love Me

When I am gone,

Release me, let me go

I have so many things to see and do.

You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears;

Be happy we had so many years.

I give you my love,

You can only guess how much you gave to me in happiness.

I thank you for the love

You have shown me;

But now it’s time I travel alone.

So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must.

Then let your grief be comforted by trust.

It’s only for a while that we must part,

So bless the memories within your heart.

I won’t be far away for life goes on.

So if you need me,

Call me and I will be near.

And if you listen with your heart,

You’ll hear

All my love around you,

Soft and clear.

And when you must come this way along,

I’ll greet you with a smile,

And “Welcome Home”.

I know that as I read this, we can feel Mama listening with us, comforting us, living in us. Mama, this is the one true memory you left that we will cherish, until we meet again. WE Love you dearly and miss your comforting company.

God Bless – Joyce Mary Glidden – better known as Super Mom and Hero to us all.

See you in Heaven MAMA, don’t forget to ask the Lord for a bigger house as there will be more of us to come as time passes us by… I only hope we all go out with as much dignity and grace as you have shown us. I look forward to the day when we can all be reunited as one big Happy-Loving Family in the Lord’s house.

We love you Mom….Rest in Peace.

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POEM - “Today” I Sit Holding the Hand! - A Poem by: James Dean Smearer July 6, 2012

– Dedicated to our wonderful Mother, Joyce Mary Glidden (Smearer)

“Today”, I sit holding the hand, of the one who gave us birth,

She looks at me and tries to speak,

But she can’t, as she’s too weak!

Her spirit held high with dignity and grace,

Yet when I look at her, she has worry and sorrow upon her face.

Her loving touch, her warm embraces,

Her gentle eyes helped! Drain the worry from our faces!

Her loving hands that tended to me,

Can now barley hold a cup of tea!

She squeezes my hand with all her might,

God love Her! She still has the will, to win this fight!

Her eyes are glazed, her stare is strong,

Today she heard her favorite song!

A smile from her, that lit up the place!

I’ll never forget that look upon her face.

She is so kind, she is so giving!

All she wants to do is keep on living!

You’ve taught us well, the lessons we live by!

Never give up without a try!

“I love you” she would say at the end of a call,

But never! A “good-bye or “adieu” to us all!

When you get to Heaven, and you knock on the gates!

Ask St. Peter for a bigger house, a table set with eight plates!

We will be seeing each other, again one day I’m sure!

As God is the answer, and also the cure!

We’ll miss you lots, our hearts filled with great sorrow!

You will always live on, in our hearts, today and tomorrow!

I bid you “adieu”, from my heart and from the eight of us all!

“Today” I held the hand, of the woman who gave us birth!