Joyce A. Stemmler

May 10, 1930 - November 1, 2021

STEMMLER, Joyce Alice (nee Procter) –

With family at her side, Joyce passed away peacefully on November 1st, All Saints Day.  A remarkable spirit, Joyce will be remembered for her generosity, extraordinary kindness and a smile that could light up a room.

Our “Miracle Mom”  diagnosed with Rheumatic fever at 23 was told she wouldn’t live to see 40.  She “checked out” to visit her Jake at 91. In her most recent poem to our father (d.2000) she wrote:

Dear Jake

May the wind of Love blow gently,

And whisper so you can hear,

I will always Love and miss you,

And wish that you were here.

I hold you close within my heart,

And there you shall remain.

To walk with me throughout my life,

Until we meet again.

For our mother, the wait is over and she is in that long awaited embrace of her husband of 50 years.

Joyce will be deeply missed by her daughter Glenda and husband Scott; her sons, Gary and wife Sherry, Mark and wife Delilah, Chuck and wife Jolanda, grandchildren, Lisa, Doug, Tracy, Samantha, Jake, Katryna, Krista, Paul and Matt. Joyce also loved looking at photos of her great grandchildren Desmond, Gwendolyn, and Sebastian. She will be remembered lovingly by many nieces, nephews and friends.

Predeceased by her parents, Alice (Hart) and Samuel Procter, sisters Alyce and Iris, her brothers Frank, Harry and Jack.

Joyce was born May 10, 1930 in Brantford, Ontario.  For over 50 years Joyce contributed to the spirit and life of St. Teresa’s parish. She was a woman of great faith, a Eucharistic Minister, and a member of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada.  A member of the Waterloo Retirees Member Club, Mom devoted much of her time with the Kitchener Parks and Recreation Department, caring for the recreational needs for residents of all ages.  As a volunteer for Canadian Food for Children, Joyce delighted children around the world with her restoration of dolls.  Our mother had a file full of certificates recognizing and appreciating her service to others, however our favourite, and one that she kept in the same file was a certificate for being the “World’s Best Grandma”.

Joyce was devoted to her kids and loved her grandchildren.  She was an avid reader, enjoyed watching Star Trek, Murdoch Mysteries, completing word searches, eating barbecued shrimp, and playing crib at which she took great joy in “skunking” her children.  Mom loved to go for drives, it didn’t really matter where.  Joyce also loved her chocolate, as evident with all the wrappers found inside her chair, and for which we feel a need to confess and apologize to all her caretakers at Mill Creek.

Our mother started the day with love, lived the day with love and ended the day with love.  She lived in the moment and was absorbed in the beauty around her.  She was generous and complimentary and incredibly grateful for everything. Mom had a sense of fun and an unfailing love for life and those who surrounded her.  Her gentle spirit was a reflection of her faith in  Jesus Christ.

We are so grateful for all the amazing people who played a role in caring for our mother in her last week at Royal Victoria Hospital with such expertise and compassion. Our deepest heartfelt thanks to the staff of Mill Creek Care Centre, who became family for her during the Covid lockdown. Their sensitivity and loving care were a wonderful blessing to our family. Our mother felt at home in her room of angels and Hummel figurines.

To everyone, and there have been so many, who have reached out to our family with love, support and prayers, thank you!

Visitation will be held at the Adams Funeral Home, 445 St. Vincent Street, Barrie, between 1pm and 4pm on Sunday, November 14th.  Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, proof of vaccination will be checked at the entrance. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Barrie at 10am, on Monday, November 15th.  The Mass will also be live streamed.  Joyce will be interned next to her husband in Memory Gardens, in Breslau, at 11am. Tuesday, November 16th.

As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

To view the online service on Monday, November15th at 10am, please click on the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/st.marysbarrie/live