Presswell, Joyce Mary (neé Benner) – December 9,1923 – September 19, 2022.
Joyce, our beloved mother died in Woodstock, Ontario in her 99th year having received the best of care at Woodingford Lodge where she resided for seven years.
Joyce was born in Stratford, Ontario where she lived most of her life until she joined the RCAF in 1941. Following in the footsteps of her brothers David and Charles Benner she served our country at war, in the munitions plant in Ajax, ON, in the Gaspé region of Quebec and finally in Ottawa.
After the war she married Arthur Presswell her handsome drummer who also served in WWII in the Highland Light Infantry. They married in June of 1945. They moved to Ingersoll where they set up home where seven children, four girls and three boys were raised.
Joyce loved art, nature, and gardening. She often shared stories about her father’s gardens in Stratford from which she gained considerable knowledge of growing things. She loved watching the birds and took delight in making sure these little songsters were fed enough during cold winter months. She was a grand baker of pies. We remember her lemon sponge pie, fruit pies of all sorts and butter tarts.
Joyce was a quiet person who worked at various jobs to help support her growing family. She worked for more than twenty-five years in the kitchen at Alexandra Hospital in Ingersoll. One of her crowning achievements there was to become a founding member of the hospital workers union CUPE local 220, subsequently becoming president of that union. She showed compassion and care for those who were less fortunate. Although she was not wealthy, she still shared what she did have with others, a legacy that lives on in many of her children. She was an ordinary member of the Canadian Legion branch 119 Ingersoll in recognition of her veteran’s service to Canada.
Joyce is predeceased by her parents, Cleve and Muriel Benner of Stratford, her brothers, Jack, Charles and David Benner and her sister Muriel Freeman and her beloved Art who died in January of 2012, after sixty-seven years of marriage. She leaves behind her seven children: Trish (John) Strung, Janice, Beverley (Ron) Archer, Doris (Bert) O’Quinn, Charles (Carmen), Ted (Jules) and David (Sue). She also leaves fourteen lovely grandchildren: Christopher, Jessica, Cynthia (Mike), Nathan (Stephanie), Rebecca (Ryan), Karen (Ré), Ian (Karina), Liam, Lindsay (Harry), Sydney, Celina, Brittany, Dana (Josh), Rachel. Joyce had six great grandchildren, Gabriel, Evelina, Nikolas, Henry, Liliana, and Ingrid.
We give thanks for mum’s life. Go to the Angels mum and rest in eternal peace.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to the McBeath-Dynes Funeral Home, Ingersoll, ON. A private family memorial service will be held on Friday, September 23, 2022, with a legion memorial service prior to the family funeral.
In lieu of flowers donations in Joyce’s name to Woodingford Lodge, Woodstock, Canadian Legion branch 119 Ingersoll and the Alzheimer Society would be most appreciated. Personal condolences may be posted at www.mcbeathdynes.ca
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Joyce Mary PRESSWELL Benner 2022..
McBeath-Dynes Funeral Home Ltd.
Death notice for the town of: Ingersoll, Province: Ontario