JOYCE GLEASON (SANDERSON)

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JOYCE GLEASON (nee SANDERSON) It is with great sadness and fond memories that we announce the passing of Joyce Gleason on Tuesday, August 1, 2000, the day before her 73rd birthday at the Cyprus Lodge Nursing Home in Maple Creek, SK, after a lengthy illness. Joyce for the past number of years courageously met and accepted the debilitating disease progressive supernuclear palsy. Joyce is survived by her daughter MaryEllen (Gary) North; grandchildren Alanna, Bryce, Laurissa, Kailey and Meg Hansell. Her mother Anne Ellen Sanderson (nee Pierce) sisters, Jean, Gail (Ernie), Delta (Wayne) brothers, Jack (Murial), Lee (Ruby) and sister-in-law Shirley. She is predeceased by her father William Sanderson; her son William (Bill) Gleason; her brother George Sanderson; brother-in-law Ted Swihart, and nephew Dean Sanderson. Joyce grew up on the family farm in Senate, SK. She took her schooling at home, in Bellfield and Maple Creek, SK. After grade 12 Joyce completed five years at Saskatoon and Regina and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan and General Hospital in Regina with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1949. Her dedication to nursing was evident. Early in the 1950s she established the first nursing station in the Eastern Arctic at Baker Lake, NWT. She was instrumental in winning Nurses Collective Bargaining rights in Manitoba. She was the driving force behind the unionization of Nurses in Manitoba in the early 70s right up to her retirement in 1981. Joyce practiced her profession in many capacities, as administrator, teacher and always encouraging and assisting her fellow nurses. In 1969 she worked as Employment Relations Officer for MARN (Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses). In 1975 Joyce became the first Executive Director of MONA (Manitoba Organization of Nurses Association), where she contributed a great deal of energy encouraging and assisting nurses to unionize. Another highlight for Joyce was the founding of the National Federation of Nurses Union in 1981. Joyce was well known for saying "to care for nurses is to care for patients" and "I do not fear tomorrow, for I remember yesterday, and love today." A memorial service was held in Maple Creek, SK. Interment and memorial will take place August 14 at the Assumption Cemetery, 3990 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB at 10:00 a.m. Donations may be made in Joyces memory to a charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to: GLEN EDEN FUNERAL HOME 4477 MAIN STREET 338-7111

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 09, 2000