Obituary of Joy Grant

Joy Collene Grant (nee Boston) The family of Joy Collene Grant announces, with deep sorrow, her passing on July 22, 2009. Joy was born in Georgetown, Guyana, South America, on April 20, 1942. Joy was the third of five children born to Bertram and Christabel Boston. She was predeceased by her parents and her siblings Derrick Boston and Penelope Boston. As a child, Joy attended Windsor Forest Anglican School, from which she won a place to St. Joseph's Convent, formerly Charlestown Convent, in Guyana. After graduating from St. Joseph's, Joy began her career as a Pupil Teacher at Skeldon Anglican School under the tutelage of her Father, who was the Headmaster of the School. She later taught at the Peter's Hall Anglican School. Subsequently, Joy felt a calling for the health field, which she made her vocation for the rest of her life. In 1964, she emigrated to England, to study General Nursing at Central Middlesex Hospital, where she earned State Registered Nurse Diploma, and then Midwifery at Mother's Hospital, where she earned her State Certified Midwifery Diploma. On March 25, 1967, she married Gordon Grant. They had two daughters, Sarah-Penelope and Samantha Cynthia. Joy later studied Health Visiting at Sussex University and worked as a Health Visitor for the District of Red Bridge and Waltham Forrest. Joy then demonstrated her embracement of challenge by emigrating to Toronto, Canada, with her daughters. Initially, Joy worked as a Registered Nurse in Saskatchewan for one year. She returned to Toronto to work at Wellesley Hospital in Gynaecology/Oncology until Wellesley Hospital merged with St. Michael's Hospital, at which time she began working in Psychiatry. When Joy retired in April of 2007, she had a total of 26 years of service with the Hospital. She also successfully completed the Nursing Unit Administrator's Course at the University of Toronto. Joy was a member of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and the St. Joseph's Alumni Association. Her hobbies and interests lay in the Arts. Joy was a wonderful mother, sister, and friend. She was strong and determined, yet loving and caring. She was forever loyal and dedicated to her friends and family and was always willing to help those in need, whether family, friend or mere acquaintance. Her kind disposition was evident to all, as was her sensitivity which could move her to tears as she empathized with others. Joy's whole life was one of love and service and she will be sorely missed by her daughters, Sarah-Penelope Grant (Toronto) and Samantha Grant (CA); her siblings Jem Mason (Toronto) and Mervyn Boston (NY); her nieces and nephews Derrick Boston (CA), Nicholas Boston (NY), Umar Boston (TN), Tomo Boston (Australia), Dana-Te Boston (Australia), Charwyn Boston (Toronto), Guy Boston (FL), Gaye Boston (Toronto), Renagi Boston (Toronto), Jonquil Boston (NY) and Joshua Boston (NY); and her cousins Ingrid deRushe (Holland), Carl Scholl (Curacao), Carol Scholl Lewis (TX), Marva Cummings (CT), Patsy Telford (England), Lennox Dowridge (NY), Yvonne Kowlessar (FL), Annette Younge (CA), Gem Cameron (NY), Andrew Boyce (England), Michael Boyce (England) and Graham Boyce (Hamilton). The family wishes to thank Elizabeth Chase, Princess Margaret Hospital, CCAC Durham, and St. Michael's Hospital for their care of Joy. Visitation will be held at the Humphrey Funeral Home - A.W. Miles Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2009. The funeral service will be held in the A.W. Miles Chapel on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. If desired, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 20 Holly Street, Suite #101, Toronto M4S 3B1. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.