Obituary of Joyce McMeekin

FRANCES JOYCE MCMEEKIN (nee Kemp) Passed away peacefully at home on December 4th, surrounded by her family and caregivers. Beloved wife for 63 years of Robert (Bob). Proud and loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law and aunt, she leaves behind her children and their spouses, Kemp and Pam McMeekin, Blair McMeekin, Keith and Julie McMeekin and Scott McMeekin, her grandchildren Caitlin, Alison, Anna and Eve, her sister and brother in-law, Beryl and Hazen Price, sister in-law, Yvonne McMeekin (John), and her niece and nephews, Liza, Robert and Bruce and their families. Raised in Amherstburg, Ontario, Joyce attended the University of Western Ontario, where she studied business and secretarial science. After graduating in 1942, she worked at the Canadian Bridge Company, where she met Robert. To Bob, Joyce was the best thing that ever happened to him. In the mid-1960s, Joyce returned to work. She loved working at Xerox and, after several years, she made her dream job by pioneering the creation of the position of Manager of Corporate Contributions at Xerox of Canada. At 60, she took semi-retirement; but continued to work a full time schedule, assisting charitable and not-for-profit organizations on behalf of Xerox. She loved this work and continued to do it well into "full retirement", assisting many charities and serving on several boards, including the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Community Care East York, Prison Arts, and The Famous People Players. Joyce loved to learn and she and Robert greatly enjoyed attending UWO alumni lectures, at which she would take copious notes to share with her children. She regarded such information as a gift to be given and received. Diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1998, she continued to live at home until her passing, with the help of Robert and wonderful caregivers who came to love her too. Joyce's family would also like to express their gratitude for the excellent care she received from doctors and nurses at Sunnybrook, over the past 35 years. We would particularly like to thank Drs. Culbert, Johnson, Black and Tator, Nurse Louise McIsaac, Chandra and Jennifer Bray. Thanks also for the assistance of the palliative care teams at Mount Sinai, St. Josephs, the VON and CCAC. Joyce bore her struggle with grace and though her intellectual powers diminished, her warmth did not. Her smiles were infectious and the pleasure she got from seeing new and familiar faces was often palpable. She brought much happiness to all who were fortunate enough to know her. Joyce and Robert would welcome donations made to a charity of choice to mark her passing. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Thursday, December 8, 2011. A funeral service will be held in the chapel at 1:00 p.m. on Friday. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.