Obituary
It is with great sadness we share the passing of Joyce, our beautiful Wife, Mother and Baba, on November 11, 2022, at the age of 77, surrounded by her loving family.
Joyce Lucille Spelay was born to Mike and Mary (Rudnitski) Tulik at the Canora Hospital. She attended elementary school at Monastyr School, which was only 200 yards from her home, and then onto high school in Buchanan and Canora Composite School. Joyce started her career at J & K Shoes and Canora Union Hospital. On October 10, 1964, Joyce married Michael Spelay at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yorkton. They started their life together residing at Wysla School teacherage, then Mikado, and finally settling in Canora, where she stayed home to raise their young family. In 1980, she re-entered the workforce and started her 20-year career with CIBC. After a short retirement, she returned to work for 10 years with the Canora Gateway Coop as an Administrative Assistant.
Joyce and Michael were blessed with 1 son and 4 daughters. Joyce was a loving, caring and devoted Mother, Wife and Baba. The most important thing to her was family, whom she loved unconditionally. Joyce proudly watched her children and grandchildren in their activities, playing sports, dancing, and performing. She looked forward to attending as many activities as she could in-person and watched online when unable to be there. She was our biggest cheerleader.
Joyce enjoyed gardening, canning, knitting, sewing, cooking and baking. Her grandchildren always said nothing tasted better than when Baba made it. Joyce always travelled with a box of home baked goodies when coming for visits and would have a full meal ready to eat at a moment’s notice. She loved dancing, country music, playing crokinole, going for walks, spending time with friends and neighbours and later in life, going fishing. Joyce also enjoyed sports, playing softball, curling, bowling and golf. She was thrilled to score an eagle on a Par 4 at the Ladies’ Golf Tournament in Canora in 2004. Joyce attended many concerts, Rider games and Grey Cups. Joyce and Michael went to several NHL games and travelled to watch their favorite curling teams in the Scotties and Briers.
Joyce was active in her community, volunteering her time wherever she was needed. She served as President of the Canora Aquatic Club, Chairperson of the Starlites Precision Skating Club, Secretary with the UCWL and the Ukrainian Catholic Parish. Joyce loved an adventure and enjoyed traveling to LA, San Francisco, Disneyland, San Diego, Mexico, BC and Ontario. Going to the Grand Cayman Islands to visit Murray was a very special holiday.
After Joyce’s cancer diagnosis in 2020, she chose not to share details with many, but rather, surrounded herself with positivity, love, and laughter, cherishing the precious time with family and friends. Joyce was determined to defeat the odds and her strength, resilience, humour and good nature helped to encourage her through many hurdles along the way. Joyce’s faith did not waiver and she carried herself gracefully until her passing.
A very special thank you to Dr. Andries Van Heerden and the care team at the Canora Hospital and Palliative Care Unit. Joyce was treated with dignity and respect, and she was extremely grateful for the compassionate care she received.
Joyce will be lovingly remembered, greatly missed and forever in our hearts. She was such a bright light – her sparkling personality and laughter ALWAYS filled the room. Caring Wife, Mother, Baba, Sister, Cousin, Aunt and Friend to many. We are forever grateful for the time we had with her and will cherish the many beautiful memories.
Joyce is survived by her husband of 58 years, Michael; children Murray (Cheri; Kyle, Deanna); Debra (Michael; Brett & Patricia, Jillana); Michele (Mark; Riel); Denall (Doug; Dylan, Leah) and Janna (Kale, Eva). She is also survived by sister Betty (Gerry) Karpovich, brother Ernie (Elenor) Tulik, sister Jeanette (Alex) Pobran, brother-in-law, Chester Zawada, and their families. Michael’s family, brother-in-law Dennis Spelay, sister-in-law Trudy Spelay, brother-in-law David (Faye) Spelay, and sister-in-law Mildred Spelay and their families.
Joyce is predeceased by her parents Mike and Mary Tulik, sister Nancy (Laurent) LaPerle, brother Norman (Myrna) Tulik and sister Sonya Zawada, as well as her Goddaughter, Tracy Pobran; Michael’s family, parents-in-law Nick and Pauline Spelay, brother-in-law John Spelay and sister-in-law Rozella Spelay.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday November 19, 2022, from Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Canora, SK, with Very Rev. Fr. Joakim Rac as Celebrant. A private family interment will be held at a later date.
Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Canora Hospital Auxiliary-Palliative Care Unit, as tokens of remembrance in memory of Joyce Spelay.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Joyce Spelay, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Joyce Spelay 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Canora, Province: Saskatchewan