It is with great sorrow that we announce the peaceful passing of our mother, Joyce, at Algoma Residential Community Hospice, her daughters at her side, on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at the age of 94.
Loving wife for 70 years of the late Edwin (2021). Loving mother of Rodney St. Amand (Caroline), Barbara Dragicevic (Robert) and Donna St. Amand (Rod). Proud grandmother of Noah St. Amand (Hannah), Aimée Lukings (Justin), Kate Alldred (Jon), Gillian Currie (Steve), Eli Currie (Brittani), Drew Currie, and Hilary Dragicevic (James). Beloved great-grandmother of Mia, Ben and Levon St. Amand; Ruby, Billie and Georgia McCann; Charlotte (Charlie) Lukings; Misses Frances and Alice Alldred and Tucker Currie. Predeceased by her parents Lawrence and Sylvia Tessier and her sister Geraldine Strom (late Leonard). Fondly remembered as Aunty Joyce to her many nieces and nephews, and mourned as the eldest cousin of the Tessier family.
Mom was a gentle guiding force for us all our lives and our rock. We find comfort in knowing she is reunited with her Edwin and having a dance or two.
Joyce was born in Searchmont and enjoyed her early childhood years on the family farm and in the store. She always cherished the evenings of fiddle music and dancing and grew up proud of her French Canadian and Finnish heritage. Joyce continued to excel at school after the family moved to the Sault and she graduated from Collegiate at the age of 16. From there she went on to work as a secretary at Algoma Steel in the Cornwall Building where she met her future husband and our father, Ed. In the years hence with three kids, she was a busy and wonderful homemaker and always caring and supportive of us. She later resumed her working life as the office manager at Proctor and Redfern, and then spent a few rewarding years with the Addiction Research Foundation.
Later on, Joyce could walk across the street to the YMCA where she worked in the front office as a bookkeeper, forming lasting friendships with her fellow workers and was part of the notorious trio of Jackie, Enola, and Joyce. She was also a dedicated volunteer for several years, in various committee and leadership roles at John Wesley United Church. As a breast cancer survivor, she continued that journey as convenor of the Reach to Recovery Program for 21 years and where she was able to share her experience and provide invaluable leadership and support to other breast cancer patients. Her later volunteer pursuits included a time working in the Art Gallery of Algoma gift shop with a group of wonderful women and where she did her Christmas shopping to our benefit.
Together, Mom and Dad led an active and varied life. They were dedicated and devoted grandparents who were always ready to hit the road for family visits in the various parts of the province, to give a helping hand when needed, and to be a presence in their grandchildren’s lives. They travelled widely across Canada with family or to visit friends, took Caribbean cruises with their close circle of travel companions, and embarked on more intrepid trips to Israel and Turkey that were organized by their friends and partners in crime, Rev. Jim and Louise Thomson.
Their great joys in life were the lifelong and enduring friendships they maintained and the close ties of the St.Amand and Tessier families.
Their home at 200 Poplar, where they lived for over 60 years, was the gathering place for hosting many family celebrations, parties and dinners always featuring Joyce’s great cooking and baking—her famous Grand Marnier cake was the most requested on the birthday circuit. After Edwin’s passing and the sale of 200 Poplar, Joyce’s home was at Pathways Retirement Residence where she was happily settling into her new life, making new circles of friends and enjoying new activities. She was known for her warmth, friendly smile and her joyful laugh. We thank the staff and management at Pathways for providing an environment that was safe and caring to Mom during her time there.
For the family in the past few years, Joyce was the most fun-loving and easy-going pal to hang out with. She loved the drives to Toronto and Kingston for Christmas and other occasions, and she was still enjoying and able to make the trips to “camp” at Havilland Bay in the summer and fall. There was endless time for her to relax in the sun with her Caesars and crosswords and also flex her still formidable cribbage and Hawk Junction dice-playing skills at the old pine table.
She had a tremendous memory and could recount so many events, celebrations, birth dates and names (plus addresses) with almost instant recall even up to her final days. We have lost our family historian and our touchstone to the family past, but the history and the memories will live on in our hearts. Rest in peace, Mom.
The St.Amand family wishes to extend their thanks to the nurses and staff on 3C at SAH, especially during the challenging period of lockdown on that unit. A special thank you to friend Andrea, who helped us navigate Mom’s hospital stay and care in that difficult time, and to Dr. Sarah White, whose compassion and swift action, ensured that Mom spent her final hours at ARCH, her wish granted. And to the nurses and staff at ARCH, who watched over her and allowed her to rest in peace with grace and dignity, our most heartfelt gratitude.
A Celebration of Life for Joyce will take place at Arthur Funeral Home – Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington St. East; 705-759-2522) at a later date. Joyce was a regular donor to ARCH and a champion of The Alzheimer’s Society in the Sault. Memorial donations to these charities (payable by cheque or online) or the Sault Area Hospital, would be appreciated. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.arthurfuneralhome.com for the family.