Obituary of Joel Robin Tyler

September 13, 1959 – Edmonton, Alberta

September 30, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Dear Family and Friends,

I am sorry to announce that I passed on to the next phase of our existence on September 30, 2021 after a long battle with liver disease.  In the final, terminal stage of this illness, there is a precipitous decline in mental function and identity.  I have chosen to avoid that and its effect on my nearest and dearest by availing myself of the services offered through the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program with Alberta Health.  I consider myself extremely fortunate that society has finally recognized our inherent right to control our own exits and that Alberta Health offers this program.  I am very grateful to all of the people who have chosen to work in this difficult field!  I also wish to thank all of the workers connected with the Liver Clinic here in Calgary and the nurses who serve in the Foothills Hospital Day Medicine Clinic.  Special mention needs to be made of all of the help that Nurse Practitioner Sandra Anderson of the Liver Clinic gave me during my time with them.  She went above and beyond in her care of me during some difficult times.  Many thanks to them all!

Please don’t waste any time in feeling sad for me.  I have been exceptionally lucky in my time here.  All of my life I have been surrounded by the love of family and friends.  Certainly I must have done something right to be as blessed as I have been but I have no idea what it was.  If I have had any advantage at all in battling the ups and downs we are all subject to, it has been the possession of a strong sense of humour.  That has allowed me to see the true ridiculousness of our existence and to take joy in both sides of the coin as I made way through.  I can’t imagine what I would have done without it but I know it wouldn’t have been half as fun! 

The one regret I have is that I didn’t get to spend more time with my family and friends on this earth.  It is too bad that I couldn’t grow older with my beloved wife Kelly and all the rest of my family members.  I would like to have experienced more of old age with my friends.  I am saddened at missing this opportunity.  As mentioned previously however, I take comfort that this is not the end of “Joel”.  Although I have no idea what it will turn out to be and I have no time for the limited vision of a heaven and hell, I am comfortable that I have merely moved on to the next phase of consciousness.  Accordingly, I am merely getting there a little sooner than the rest of my loved ones and look forward to being there to greet them whenever they may join me.  In the meantime, I will get to see again those that have preceded me.  So on that happier note, thanks and “until we meet again” to all of the people that were nice enough to have shared their lives with me in the last 62 years.  Cheers! 

Condolences, memories and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Joel Tyler, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.