Joyce Florence Yurkiw

With sad hearts the family announces Joyce’s death in her 97th year. She struggled with congestive heart failure for some time and succumbed on Monday July 8th, 2024, surrounded by family.

Joyce is predeceased by her parents Eve + Harold Saxton, her husband Norman Yurkiw and first husband William Armstrong, her oldest brother Harold and her younger sisters Joan and Lilian.

Joyce is survived by her siblings Eileen, Gladys, Robert and George . . . her children Evelyn Sharpe (Wayne), Janet Polding (Paul), Judy Deskur (Stefan), Bill Armstrong, John Armstrong (Heather), Michael Armstrong, Sandra Yurkiw, Marlene Acheson (Geoff), Maxine Kenny (Jeff), and 16 grand children and 17 great grand children.

Joyce was born in County Essex England in 1928 and immigrated to Canada with her parents. Several years ago, she had a memorable trip to England. She visited her cousins and other family and saw the home where she was born. Early in her adult life she was a hairdresser and later a skilled home maker, an avid gardener, and seamstress. She first accepted a Bible Study from Sister Jeanette McNally in Clinton, Ontario in the mid-1950’s and later became an active member of Jehovah’s Witnesses global community. She remained faithful to the end, attending the Public Talk and Watchtower Study at Hilltop Manor just one week before her death where she enjoyed the program and looked up scriptures in her Bible.

The family would like to sincerely thank the caring staff of PeopleCare Hilltop Manor in Galt, Ontario where Joyce had been comfortably living since early 2023. After a period of adjustment Joyce grew to love the calm safe atmosphere and kind staff who treated her like a queen!! She was happily surrounded by her furniture, photos, family, and friends.

Joyce’s funeral will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 11 Torch Lane, Guelph, Ontario N1G 1V5 on Saturday July 20th at 2:00pm with Gary Hawley officiating. Light refreshments will follow.

(A Zoom stream will begin at 1:30pm … Meeting ID 865 7410 0035 / Passcode 127425)

In lieu of flowers Joyce preferred donations be made to the Worldwide Bible Education Work she supported. Donations can be made online by following the steps at “www.donate.jw.org”.