JOYCE MARY DUBICK

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JOYCE MARY DUBICK Joyce Mary DuBick (née Rigate), mother of her beloved daughter Linda, died peacefully in her sleep on October 7, 2006, in Coquitlam, BC. Joyce was born in Gravesend, Kent, UK, on July 29, 1911, and came to Canada at the age of four, settling in Bienfait, SK, where her father worked as the CNR stationmaster. Joyce trained as a Registered Nurse, graduating from the Winnipeg General Hospital's School of Nursing in 1934. She had a long and rewarding career in public health, emergency care and geriatric nursing. She also administered two Winnipeg personal care homes. In 1945, she met the love of her life, Nicolas DuBick, a public health official with the City of Winnipeg. After a three-month courtship, they married on August 11. Theirs was a rich life together, yielding a bounty of warm memories. Together they built a cottage with their own hands at Victoria Beach, and took great joy in the birth of their only child. This treasured life together ended in 1983 with Nicolas's death at the age of 78. Joyce was invited to make a life together with Linda and her husband, David. She lived with them in Winnipeg until 2001, when the three of them moved to Coquitlam. Joyce spent many hours enjoying the lush garden of her new home. In the spring of 2005, suffering from the debilitation of osteoporosis, Joyce experienced a fall that resulted in severe fractures. She was never to walk on her own again. After months of hospitalization and the progress of additional medical conditions, she required extensive nursing care and was admitted to the Dufferin Care Centre in the fall. During her final months she endured a great deal of pain and discomfort, but did so with courage, determination and dignity. Joyce is survived, in addition to her daughter and son-in-law, by her sister and brother-in-law Margaret and Ron MacLean of Pinawa, MB, their daughters Laurie and Valerie MacLean, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on October 18 at St. Catherine's Anglican Church in Coquitlam. If friends wish to do so, donations may be made to the Joyce and Nicolas DuBick Memorial Bursary, in care of Development Services, The University of Manitoba, 179 Extended Education Complex, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 14, 2006