Obituary of Joyce Beryl Gladden

May 9, 1936 – Greenford, England

November 22, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

 

With profound sadness and love, we announce the passing of Joyce Beryl Gladden. Our beloved mother and grandma passed away peacefully on Friday, November 22, 2024, at the age of 88, after battling the effects of a stroke, she suffered seven weeks earlier. Born in Greenford, England on May 9, 1936, to Amy (Potter) and Charles Dutch, Joyce was known for her deep love of animals, creativity, strong work ethic, bright smile, and infectious laugh.

 

Having a desire to see Canada since she was a young child, Joyce's adventurous spirit led her to board the Queen Mary – ship from England to Canada in her early twenties, where she settled in Ottawa and welcomed her first son, Paul. Shortly after arriving in Ottawa, close friends invited Joyce to move to Vancouver with them. A single mother at the time, she and Paul packed up and moved across the country to create a new life on the West Coast.

 

A few years after arriving in Vancouver, Joyce met her husband of 55 years, Steve Gladden. She and Steve would expand their family the following year with the birth of their first son, Chris. Two years later, they welcomed another son, David, followed by their first daughter Kathy a few years after that. After many happy years in the Vancouver area, Joyce and Steve moved to the quaint village of Stewart in Northern BC, where their young children created many fond memories of a simple and fun-filled life. While in Stewart, BC, Joyce and Steve became parents to their youngest daughter, Carolyn.

 

In the late 1970s, Joyce, Steve, and the kids made their way to Hinton, AB, where they made it home for two decades. Joyce worked as a cake decorator at the local IGA, a job she loved for many years.

 

She was a devoted fan of every sport her children were involved in such as hockey, volleyball, figure skating, and dance. A vocal “Hockey Mom”, she was often the only fan in the stands, never one to shy away from letting the referee know they made a bad call as she continued to watch games even when Chris and David became adults.

 

She was an excellent seamstress, delighting in creating her own clothes, skating outfits, doll clothes, and quilts to sell at craft markets. No detail was spared.

 

Joyce couldn't wait for the weather to warm up each year so she could start riding her scooter around town again. She loved warm vacations too and fell in love with white, powdery sand and crystal-clear water.

 

She was fortunate to have had many trips to Florida, the Caribbean, and Europe with Steve and the kids through the years. While their children were growing up, Joyce and Steve worked hard to give them many opportunities to create fond memories through summer vacations in the Okanagan or skiing in the winter. Learning to ski at 50 years old, Joyce fell in love with her mid-week ski days at Marmot Basin in Jasper, AB, and trips to her favourite ski hill, Sunshine Village in Banff, AB.

 

Joyce leaves behind a family who will forever cherish the many memories of happy childhoods in a loving home. Her children and grandchildren will continue to honour her by living lives filled with the same kindness, joy, and adventure-filled spirit she imparted.

 

Joyce’s family is grateful to have had her and Steve close to them, in the Calgary area, since 2002. A strong-willed personality allowed Joyce to live independently at her home in Cochrane, AB, with her dog at her side, even in the face of declining health over the past few years.

 

Joyce is lovingly remembered by her two daughters, Kathy Gladden and Carolyn (Ben) Brunnen; and her three sons, Paul Dempsey, Chris Gladden, and David (Patti-Ann) Gladden. Grandma Joyce will also be missed by her nine grandchildren, Carmen Dempsey, Kyla (Kole) Weik, Erik, Kailey, Zachary, Noah, and Emberlynn Gladden, and Lydia and Sam Brunnen.

 

Joyce was predeceased by her husband, Steve Gladden, mother, Amy (Potter) Dutch, father, Charles Dutch, and brother, Les Dutch.

 

When the unimaginable sadness subsides, we will celebrate a life well-lived, filled with love and dedication to family and her many pets. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of those she touched.

 

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the staff at Dulcina Hospice within St. Marguerite Manor in Calgary, AB, who supported Joyce and our family in her final days in the most compassionate and professional ways possible.

 

Should you feel inclined to honour Joyce’s memory, memorial tributes may be made directly to The Calgary Humane Society, 4455 – 110th Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB T2C 2T7, Telephone: (403)205-4455, www.calgaryhumane.ca, or to an animal shelter of your choice.

 

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Joyce’s family here.

 

In living memory of Joyce Gladden, 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.