Joyce, wife for 59 years to Bill, Mum to Joanne and Dave (Karen), grandmother to Marah and Taylor, relative and friend to many, left this earth after a brief illness to be with her parents (Mary and Dave) and friends that went before her. Strong and determined to the end, it was Joyce who called the shots and decided she was done fighting the good fight. She said her goodbyes to the family on Friday and slipped away peacefully on Saturday.
Joyce was a loving, caring person whose life centred on family and friends. She made life-long friends easily and never missed celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, weddings and bridal showers, with cards and cake. She enjoyed travelling – especially cruises and bus tours and also trips to Hawaii, Vegas and the UK, playing bridge with the ladies, entertaining (with good food involved), talking on the phone, volunteering with the Canadian Cancer Society and Mothers March of Dimes, everything about the Royal family, going to the casino (and winning), camping in the trailer at Resort on the Lake and Willis Point, attending Cameo Club, and many, many gatherings with family and friends.
Joyce, an only child, was born in Prince Rupert, living there and on Digby Island until she moved to Victoria at age 13. While in Prince Rupert, Joyce and her mother took a trip to Scotland to visit relatives and got stuck there as WWII broke out. Joyce went to school in Edinburgh for several months until they could get safe passage back to Canada.
In Victoria, Joyce attended Central Jr. High and Victoria High School. After a year at Victoria College with top marks in math, Joyce went to work for Mutual Life where she met some lifetime friends and rose to the position of office manager. On her days off, Joyce went on many adventures in her Austin Morris with her friends.
In the late 1950’s, through the First United Young Peoples group, she met the love of her life, Bill. Many fun times were had, including weekends at the Shawnigan Lake cabin, built by Bill and friends. Bill and Joyce married in 1959, bought the property at Cardiff Place and built a house which was completed in 1961. It’s still the family residence!
When it was time to start a family, Mum stopped full-time paid employment, but she never stopped working. Volunteering at her kids’ school, fundraisers, the Canadian Cancer Society (25 years), Mothers March of Dimes, and many more. Occasional paid work included Regal Sales, Amway, H&R Block, and Elections.
When Grandchildren Marah and Taylor arrived, Mum was an attentive and active force. Cuddles, gifts, story-telling and teaching life skills like making chocolates and cookies and having good manners, Grandma Nic was always available for every birthday, school concert and presentation. She was very proud to see both graduate high school and start on their adult journey.
Joyce was adventurous. She played tennis, golf, bowling, did ballroom and square dancing, water-skied, and even tried snow skiing at the young age of 49. For many years, she was a regular at the Crystal Pool. She was the driving force behind many family vacations – Disneyland, Hawaii for several Christmas’, Mt Washington, and explorations throughout BC.
“Joyce had a positive impact on many people. She will be greatly missed.”
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 10:00 am. If you cannot make the celebration, please have a piece of chocolate or cake or a sip of her favourite drink (Fresca) in her honour.
In lieu of flowers, if you would like, donations could be made to the Canadian Cancer Society www.cancer.ca/en/get-involved/support-us/how-your-donations-help/?region=bc#mail or the Heart and Stroke Foundation http://www.heartandstroke.ca/
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Jim Upright
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Tanya My sincere condolences to you Joanne and Mr. Nicolson, Dave, Karen, Marah, and Taylor. I am so thankful I got to meet Mrs. Nicolson (Joyce) several years ago through Joanne and the whole family’s kindness and generosity to include me in one of their spring break family holidays to Mt. Washington, likely spearheaded by Joyce. What made a lasting impression on me and remains one of my most treasured experiences on Vancouver Island is not the skiing I enjoyed that weekend, but the time in the cabin with Joanne’s family. Mrs. Nicolson was at the centre of that, caring for everyone and being a hands-on grandma. I would also cross paths with Joyce every so often in her grandma role after school; the smiles on her, Bill’s, Marah’s and Taylor’s faces still warms my heart … as do my memories of her homemade chocolates at Christmas and often hearing about or seeing the many chocolates and goodies she made for Joanne’s students. Joyce’s thoughtful, kind, generous, caring nature was outstanding. She will be missed by so many! My love and heartfelt thoughts are with you Joanne, Bill, Dave, Karen, Marah, and Taylor. May all the love you shared with your mum, Joyce, and grandma surround you and comfort you as you celebrate her life and in the days ahead.
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Don & Dolore Stevens Bill, We were so very sorry to hear the news of Joyces’ passing. It seems only a few weeks ago that we were enjoying a visit with her at Ken Leighton’s memorial. We have always enjoyed out chats at Car Club functions that Joyce attended. We too, will mss her.
59 years is a long time married and our hearts go out to you.Y;ou have many friends who care. We hope you can take some comfort from that. Our deepest sympathies, Don and Dolores
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Andrea Skakun I’m glad I got to know Joyce through her daughter, Joanne. She was always so kind and she made special chocolates for the students in Joanne’s class at school to celebrate the different holidays during the year. She also collected the tokens from the Times Colonist newspaper for the free visits to Butchart Gardens and then offered them to me as she knew how much I enjoy taking photos there.
Sending love to Joanne, Bill, Dave, Karen, Marah and Taylor…
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Carolyn Bouck Sending love and warm memories of Joyce–especially her shortbread at Christmas time! The Irwin family.
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Rhonda Anstett (nee Shave) Prayers and thoughts are with you Bill, Joanne, Dave, Karen, Marah, and Taylor. It is always sad when a loved one dies but knowing Joyce she would not want us to be sad. I always think about how Joyce would come over and play Bridge with the ladies.She always had a smile. She will be missed and I know she was dearly loved.
Sorry to hear of your loss, and having missed the service.
Jim & Ferne Upight