REMUS, Joyce

REMUS, Joyce Mamie

May 6, 1925 to April 10, 2022

Joyce Mamie Remus of Lethbridge passed away one month shy of her 97th birthday on Sunday, April 10, 2022.

Joyce was born in Didsbury, Alberta in 1925, the middle of nine girls raised by loving parents Wilfred and Mayme Merner. She is survived by her children, Lynda (Dave) Navratil, Roy (Shari) Remus, Darryl (Wendy) Remus, Neil Remus, and Jerry (Corrine) Remus.

Joyce was predeceased by Norman her husband of 71 years in 2021; sisters, Evelyn Laforge, Beulah Thomson, June Swanson, Peggy Storfield, Fern Bruneski, and Donna Benedict.

In her youth, Joyce attended Point Inspiration Bible Camp, where she first met her future husband, Norm. At 17 years old, she left home to live in Edmonton where she worked several jobs and taught herself to play the organ. After moving back to Wetaskiwin, Joyce and Norm met again outside the Post Office in Wetaskiwin when she was 22. They married three years later, on January 4, 1950.

Starting on a farm in Brightview, Alberta, Joyce loved helping Norm care for the chickens, horses, pigs and cows. Their daughter Lynda and son Roy were born while on the farm. Later they moved into Wetaskiwin and then settled in Edmonton. Darryl was born in Wetaskiwin, Neil and Jerry were born in Edmonton. While raising the family in Edmonton, Joyce enjoyed making doughnuts, carting the kids around, and even caring for friend’s children in her home. In 1969 the family moved to Lethbridge. Joyce enjoyed participating in the Evangelical Free and Lakeview Mennonite Churches. She loved playing the organ, singing in a ladies trio, church choirs and socializing with her family, relatives and friends. Joyce also loved cooking and baking for her hungry family, playing games like spoon pit and crokinole; she gave us haircuts, and loved laughing with her sisters (what a cackle).

In 1983, Joyce and Norm retired to enjoy the resort life in Kelowna. After a few years they sold their home to travel across Canada and the USA for 8 months in a camper van. In 1991, they built a house overlooking Kelowna and the gorgeous Okanagan valley. There they attended Trinity Baptist Church and subsequently The Church of God. They enjoyed winter holidaying with Norm’s sister Pearl and friends in Yuma, AZ.

After 30 years, they reluctantly left their hillside Kelowna home to move back to Lethbridge and their family. They made many friends at the Black Rock, Golden Acres, Blue Sky, and Cedar Ridge Lodges. Joyce and Norm enjoyed their family which blossomed to 13 grandchildren, 22 great-, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. Mom loved visiting family and holding our hands.

Her Memorial Service will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral Home with interment to follow at Royal View Cemetery.

To send condolences, please visit www.generationsfh.ca