Dionne, John, Lauren, and Rowan my heart aches to hear of Joyce’s passing. To me, she will always be Mrs. Williams. They say everyone has a favourite teacher, and she was most definitely mine. I still have the monthly stickers she would put around our name in a keepsake album. She was the first name I always thought of when someone would ask me about a teacher who influenced me. She made you feel valued, seen, and adored...and part of the reason I was inspired to become a teacher myself. I wanted to leave a legacy and impact children the way she impacted me!

Then as fate would have it, I ended up being mentored by Dionne my first year teaching. It was through our friendship that I was able to reconnect with and see my favourite teacher from time to time...although it did feel weird getting to call Joyce by her first name.

I was in awe of her secret painting talent, and to my surprise she gifted me with one of her paintings that I loved. It’s special to me for so many reasons, but that’s who Joyce was...finding ways to surprise those around her with her thoughtfulness and acts of kindness. She was one in a million and will be terribly missed by many.

Wrapping our hearts and arms around you all!

Kendra, Will, Kennedy, and Presley Boyd

Our entire family was saddened to hear that Joyce passed away. As a teacher and as a friend Joyce was one of the best. She had an influence on our family teaching two of our kids (Kendra & Rob) at Mother Teresa and later I had the opportunity to be a colleague of hers at St. Patrick's School. Of course, lets not forget I had the privilege of teaching and being a colleague of yours Dionne. Later you mentored Kendra at St. Marys School in Okotoks. Helen remembers sitting in her lawn chair early in the morning in front of Mother Teresa School wanting to get Kendra into Joyce's Grade 1 class. Word was out that she was a great teacher and we sure found that to be true. The kids loved her. Because she had such a positive influence on kids when I think of her I think of the following.

“A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW IT WILL NOT MATTER WHAT MY BANK ACCOUNT WAS, THE SORT OF HOUSE I LIVED IN, OR THE KIND OF CAR I DROVE …. BUT THE WORLD MAY BE DIFFERENT BECAUSE I WAS IMPORTANT IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD.”

Stan & Helen Aberle and Families

Dear Bob, Dionne, John, Lauren & Rowan,

Our heart ache for all of you! Many are grieving; and many tears are being shed with you, and for you. The world lost an amazing woman, and I feel so blessed and grateful that our paths crossed, we became colleagues, and most of all, friends. She was one of a kind—compassionate, caring, loving, putting the needs of others ahead of her own, passionate, a woman of faith, and a life long learner. We are so fortunate that you shared your beloved wife, mother and grandmother with us. May our loving God grant you strength, and may the love of family and friends bring you comfort and support as you grieve your loss at this very difficult time. On behalf of my wife, Christine, we extend our sincerest sympathies, and send our love and prayers.

~ Mel & Chris Deydey