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.bccancer.bc.ca/RS/VancouverIslandCentre/donating.htm or the Heart and Stroke Foundation www.heartandstroke.ca/
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
Rhonda Anstett (nee Shave)
March 8, 2019
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.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Joyce Anne Nicolson nee Taylor May 9 1931 – March 2 2019..
mccall gardens funeral and cremation service
Death notice for the town of: Victoria, Province: Colombie britanique