Lillian Joyce MacMartin
(Borgfjord)
On June 29th, after a brief illness, Joyce passed way with her family by her side. She was born on June 1st, 1938 in Arborg, Manitoba and spent her childhood on the family farm playing with her brother Marvin. She grew up in a loving extended family which included Amma, Afi, Uncle Mangi, and Grandma Margaret as well as her Mom and Dad, older brother, and baby sister Lenore.
Like many rural children, Joyce became involved in the 4H Club. This was where she first learned to sew, making everything from aprons to a tailored suit with a mink collar courtesy of the Borgfjord fur farm. Public speaking was also a skill she developed in 4H. She and her partner Eleanor Johansson won the provincial 4H clothing competition and went on to win the Nationals.
Meeting the Regional Home Economists kindled an interest in Home Economics. Joyce graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and went on to earn a Bachelor of Education degree. At university, she met the love of her life, Bryan MacMartin, who after graduation joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. They married and shortly thereafter she began her time as an Air Force wife. She experienced numerous postings, including Comox, British Columbia, Centralia Ontario, and Cold Lake, Alberta.
In 1969, the family moved back to Winnipeg so that Bryan could pursue an MBA. Joyce went to work teaching at Elmwood High School and later at Fort Richmond Collegiate. She had a unique ability to foster interest in Home Economics for both male and female students and for years had the highest enrollment in the province. While teaching full-time and raising a family, she earned a Masters Degree in Education specializing in Curriculum Development. Joyce’s success as a teacher was noted, and she was seconded to the Department of Education as a Curriculum Consultant. Later, she was promoted to be responsible for a multidisciplinary team of curriculum consultants who were prolific in curriculum development. Joyce produced numerous documents and teacher resources including the Family Life Curriculum and Skills for Independent Living. She introduced day cares in several schools as part of Child Development so that single moms could complete their high school education. She served on numerous provincial and interprovincial task forces in education. She also taught a course in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba.
Throughout her life, her faith in God guided her and sustained her through many trials including the loss of a baby girl at birth. She was a devoted Christian and included quotes from Christian philosopher Francis Shaeffer in her Masters Thesis. Her work reflected her values, and because of this she was included in a book by Lorna Dueck titled Unsung Heroes which showcased people who have made a difference in a variety of fields.
Her children and grandchildren were of utmost importance to her. She would come home from visits to her daughters, Jocelyn and Cynthia, full of tales of her grandchildren’s achievements and stories of cute things they said or did. They will have many fond memories of Grandma Joyce. She was a loving grandmother to Cameron’s step daughter Ana.
After her retirement, she devoted her time to volunteer work at Elim Chapel leading a Bible Study and undertaking a successful fundraising project to renovate the sanctuary. The beautiful result is an illustration of her design flare. She also joined the University Womens’ Club and made many wonderful friends there, enjoying several book clubs and guest speakers. There too, she showed off her organizational abilities and design flare by being responsible for the raffle of gift baskets which were beautifully co-ordinated and very appealing.
She was predeceased by her husband Bryan, infant daughter, parents Marino and Ellen, brother Marvin and sister-in-law, Lynne, and daughter-in-law Carol. She is survived by her daughter Jocelyn Beveridge (Tom), Bailey, Patrick, and Stephanie of Dallas, Texas; her daughter Cynthia MacMartin (Peter Klobuchar), Peter, Cecilia, and Oscar of Chicago, Illinois; and son Cameron MacMartin (Yrma), Gwen, and Sebastien; her sister, Lenore Good (Chris), and many cousins, nieces and nephews and their families.
Joyce was a leader and a woman of strong character. She had a wonderful sense of humour and made the choice to be positive even in the most challenging of circumstances. We will miss her dearly.
The family would like to thank the staff of the St. Boniface Hospital for their excellent and compassionate care.
The funeral will be held on Thursday, July 4th, 2019, at 11:00 AM at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame Avenue, with viewing prior to the service. A private family interment will take place in Arborg, Manitoba.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Elim Chapel Organ Fund, 546 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 0G3
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Joyce MacMartin Saturday June 29th 2019..
Death notice for the town of: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba