COLLINS, V. Joyce
Passed away June 5th, 2016 at the age of 87.
Survived by daughters: Debbie Rath (Glenn) of Kelowna, BC and Kelly Jones (Gary) of West Kelowna, BC. Grandchildren: Shannon and Rebecca Rath, and Travis and Patrick Jones. Sisters: Mary Hrechuk of Campbell River, BC and Lorna Alfonso of Mesa, AZ. In addition to many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her husband Thomas Joseph Collins (1984); Brothers: Delmer (1926), William (1988) and sister Coral (2013).
Joyce was born October 1, 1928 in Great Falls, Manitoba. The fourth of six children, her family later moved to Winnipeg where she met and married the love of her life, Joe Collins, in 1955 and had their first child, Debbie, in 1958.
Joe’s career with the RCMP took them to Ottawa in 1959, Windsor, Ontario in 1963- where they welcomed their second daughter, Kelly, in 1965, and London, Ontario in 1967. From 1969 – 1972, Joe’s assignments took them to Europe where Joyce racked up points as the reigning Queen of the 10-pin league at the local Armed Forces Base. In 1972 they returned to Canada where they resided in Edmonton and Joyce had the distinction of serving as lady-in-waiting to the wives of two successive Lieutenant Governors of Alberta. In 1975, another promotion brought Joe and Joyce to Kelowna and they settled in to retirement in 1983. After Joe’s passing in 1984, Joyce moved to the Glenmore community of Glenmeadows, where she took an active role and made many lifelong friends.
No service by request. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the B.C. Heart & Stroke Foundation, #4 – 1551 Sutherland Ave., Kelowna, BC V1Y 9M9 or the Canadian Diabetes Association, 1589 Sutherland Avenue Kelowna, BC V1Y 5Y7
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com, 250-860-7077.