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JOYCE BEATRICE CORMACK
Born: Apr 16, 1942
Date of Passing: Sep 01, 2025
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryJOYCE BEATRICE CORMACK
Joyce Beatrice Cormack (nee Matheson), 83, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2025, at Concordia Hospital. She was born on April 16, 1942, in Winnipeg, MB to Eleanor and Raymond Matheson.
After graduating in 1960 from Miles McDonnell, as 'prom queen', Joyce received a degree in Home Economics from the University of Manitoba in 1963, and teaching certification in 1965.
Joyce taught junior/high school for five years before marrying Ed Kuhr in 1969 and bringing in Katharine Elizabeth in 1970.
After a separation in 1983, Joyce began a lifetime of work at the Canada Revenue Agency. At the same time, she began dancing with the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS), which changed her life.
Joyce's Scottish roots and love for dance took her to Scotland where she certified as a RSCDS instructor in famous St. Andrews.
She married Lawrence Cormack in 1999, and together Scottish dancing, fun friends, annual dance trips and Robbie Burns parties became their life. Joyce also enjoyed golf, curling and swimming.
When Lawrence passed away in 2013, Joyce continued to work into her 70s and to teach Scottish country dance until age 80.
Joyce's last 22 months were spent at beautiful Bergen Gardens, where she received exceptional loving care, and they kept her dancing.
As an auntie, sister, mom and gramma, Joyce was the knitter, seamstress, needle-pointer and baker. Cinnamon buns, butter tarts and sweaters were her forte. In her RSCDS community, she will be remembered and cherished as a dancing inspiration.
Joyce was predeceased by her husband Lawrence and brother Kenneth. She is survived by her sister Connie, daughter Katharine, and grandchildren, Keanna and Bodey, and will be dearly missed by us.
A burial service will be held at Chapel Lawn, 4000 Portage Ave., at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, September 11, 2025. Afterwards a gathering to celebrate Joyce's dancing legacy will take place from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Bergen Gardens, 1475 Molson St., second floor.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 06, 2025
Condolences & Memories (6 entries)
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Joyce and I joined Scottish Country Dancing in the same year which was 1984. We became close friends and attended many dance workshops and balls both in and out of town, together with our close knit group of dancing friends affectionately known as "the girls" We enjoyed lunches together whenever one of the girls celebrated a birthday and although Scottish Country Dancing is what bound us all together it extended far beyond that. I will miss Joyce and all the fun times we had! - Posted by: Marilyn (Friend) on: Sep 09, 2025
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Joyce and I worked together at CRA for many years. She was always a very friendly person and spoke very often about her Scottish dancing. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. - Posted by: Enid Kirby (Work friend) on: Sep 08, 2025
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I knew Joyce through Winnipeg Robert Burns Club, where she was treasurer for two years also from dancing. She would insist I get up and dance even though I hadn’t danced in years. She was very determined when it came to dancing. - Posted by: Janet Thompson (Friend) on: Sep 08, 2025
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Dear Joyce was a close friend that I met about 13 years ago at the Tartan Day at the Forks in Winnipeg and she was the one who with her friendly smile came up to me and said welcome to Scottish dancing and convinced me and Johnny to come out and learn to dance with the RSCDS. Since then we became good friends and lived on the same street in Transcona and shared rides and life experiences through good and bad we helped each other along the way! I will miss her deeply and my sincerest condolences to Katharine and family! I'm sure Joyce is dancing away in heaven! Love Always Deb Peters - Posted by: Deb (Friend) on: Sep 07, 2025
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I am so sorry for your loss. Joyce came into my family's life through RSCDS and I am forever thankful. After my Mom's heart attack in 1995, Joyce called to check in with her every day. The Tuesday golf games at the Crescent, lunch at Timmy's, The Girls, and don't forget the parties (particularly at Gull Lake), Joyce was so generous with treats from her garden. Joyce was the first person to introduce me to P.E.O. and that was a wonderful gift. - Posted by: Susan Turley (Friend (Jeanne Kellas' daughter)) on: Sep 06, 2025
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So sorry to hear Joyce has left us. She was a very positive influence in my life. I will miss her. - Posted by: Valerie (Friend) on: Sep 06, 2025