- Winnipeg Free Press Passages
- All Titles
Search:
Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
JOYCE LOUISE HARRIS
Born: Feb 15, 1929
Date of Passing: Jun 22, 2019
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or Memory
JOYCE LOUISE HARRIS
February 15, 1929 - June 22, 2019
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Paul, children, Jeffrey (Suzanne Mulaire), Marcia Henri, Michael and Lesley (Don Rooney), grandchildren, Matthew, Mark, Stephen, Alexandra, Kenneth, Lise, Gaetan and Chantal, great-grandchildren, Jamie, Kai, Spencer, Marianne, Eve and Theodore, her sister Margaret McColl and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Jesse and Dorothy Bottle, brother Bill and daughter-in-law Vicki.
Mom was born in Winnipeg on February 15, 1929, the eldest of three children. While the depression years would see the family live in several homes in Winnipeg, Mom grew up primarily in Elmwood where she made many lifelong friendships, some of whom were able to join us in celebrating Mom's 90th birthday recently. Those friends and their families became part of our extended family. Mom's eyes always sparkled when she talked about the good times that they shared at Grand Beach as young people, especially at the cabin called Hellz a Poppin'. Grand Beach continued to be an important part of summer for our family until Mom and Dad bought a cottage at Lester Beach in 1963. From that point on, Harris family summers focussed on Lester Beach.
Mom and Dad met in 1946 and were married on June 4, 1952. They lived first on Rue St. Baptiste and then in 1955, they bought the family home on McCalman Avenue in Elmwood in which they would raise their four children. The house was busy with neighbourhood kids and was the site of numerous parties and dinners with friends and family, all hosted with care by Mom with Dad's help.
Besides raising her family, Mom was also a dynamite bridge player, a wonderful artist and 10-pin bowler, earning many trophies over the years in the Ladies' League at Chateau Bowling Lanes. When her children were still young, she returned to the work-force on a part-time basis (in the evenings so she was still able to care for the kids) and worked for Comcheq in its formative years and taught data entry at Red River Community College.
Mom and Dad, as children of the depression and the war years, were frugal and despite the costs associated with raising four children, were able to enjoy trips to Spain, Italy, Portugal, England, Ireland, Scotland and Mexico. After those travels ended, they spent many winters in BC with friends from Lester Beach who also wanted to escape the harsh Winnipeg winters.
In 1998, Mom and Dad fulfilled their dream of moving to the family cottage where they joined many of their friends who had the same retirement plans. They lived there until health issues required them to move back to Winnipeg in 2007. Since then, Mom and Dad have been able to live in their own apartment, more recently with the assistance of wonderful health care aides who ensure that they want for nothing.
Mom loved her family unconditionally, and that love was returned by each one of us. Over the years, every member of the family received a "Grandma made" knitted Christmas stocking, which we will all cherish even more now. She loved her grandchildren and spoiled them with all the baking that they wanted. While she was unable to do the same for her great-grandchildren, her face lit up when they came to visit her.
Mom, you will be missed by all of us, but we celebrate your 90 years, knowing that you had a wonderful life, surrounded by friends and family who loved and cherished you.
Many thanks to the supportive staff on the 6th Floor Medicine Department at the St. Boniface Hospital for helping to make Mom's last few days comfortable for her.
A celebration of Mom's life will take place on Thursday, June 27 at 1:00 p.m. at Grey Street United Church, 651 Sandhurst Avenue at Grey Street.
Flowers are gratefully declined. Those wishing to do so may donate to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, 10-120 Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4G2, or to the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, C1026-409 Taché Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 25, 2019
Condolences & Memories (7 entries)
-
Jeff & Suzanne, so sorry to hear of your Mom's passing. We just received the news today from Dan's Mom who is visiting and she found out this afternoon. We had been out of town. Our condolences go out to you and your family. Losing a Mom as special as yours, is a very difficult passage. We are hoping Paul is in good health and managing as best he can. May the memories of happier times help him and your family journey through these difficult times. - Posted by: Dan & Bonnie Siemens (Friends) on: Jul 29, 2019
-
Dear Lesley and Family, I am saddened to hear that your Mom has passed. But if I may say, her obituary is absolutely Beautiful. Sounds like she did a lot of living in her 90 years and that is a Celebration for sure. I remember her being very kind. I also remember going to the cabin with your folks and Tiger meowing in the back of the station wagon and I could not have had more fun. Know that I'm remembering our time together as youngsters fondly to Les. Wishing you all peace. Tracy - Posted by: Tracy Bondarchuk (Friend from Elmwood) on: Jul 09, 2019
-
Sorry this is posted a bit after the fact but I see My sister Kim has summed up our history with the Harris clan. I reached out to Mike to say thank you for letting us know about Joyce's passing. The one thing that impacted me about Mrs Harris was she was a lady of strong character, as a10 year old I'm sure it was more like I was terrified of her LOL. A women of strong principle and conviction are steadfast things to pass along for generations to come..... I know she'll be sadly missed, Thanks for staying in touch Mike.... - Posted by: Gary Farmer (Family Friend) on: Jul 05, 2019
-
I remember vising the lake house when I was 13. I reside in the states. She introduced me to progies. To this day if I see them in the store I buy them hoping I can relive the doughy-potatoes taste. To no avail it has not happened. My condolences to the family. 424-356-9018. - Posted by: Victoria Harris-Hunter (Niece) on: Jul 02, 2019
-
To Paul and all the family: We want to offer sincere condolences to all of you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. - Posted by: Bill Kehrer and Shirley (Friends) on: Jun 27, 2019
-
Jeff & Suzanne...always difficult to lose a family member. Good memories stay with you. Condolences...Karen Kkinner - Posted by: Karen Skinner (Neighbour) on: Jun 27, 2019
-
My family lived in Winnipeg from 1969 to 1975 and even though that wasn't very many years my siblings and myself have some of our fondest memories from Elmwood. We lived one block over from the Harris family and Michael and Lesley became wonderful friends who we spent much of our childhood with. Mr. and Mrs. Harris were warm, kind and tolerant of the neighbourhood "gang" of kids. We were always welcome in their home. One of my fondest memories of Mrs. Harris was when a group of us decided we were going to put on an impromptu show and we needed a backyard. Lesley asked her mum and she not only let us use their yard but put out chairs for any other mothers we could rustle up and had cold drinks and cookies for guests and performs alike. We've been in B.C. since 1975 but have maintained contact over the years with Mike and Lesley and have been kept in the loop about all the family. The Farmers wish to send our deepest sympathies to the Harris' at this sad and difficult time. - Posted by: Kim Corness (Farmer) (Friend) on: Jun 25, 2019