Joyce Lillian Wallace

Joyce Lillian Wallace (Green) passed peacefully away on Monday, April 10, 2023, surrounded by her three adoring sons, and their spouses. Predeceased by her father, Charles Green, Mother, Lilian Green, Sister, Dorothy Kemp, and brother in law, Leslie Kemp. Leaving to mourn sons, Stephen (Wendi Smallwood), David (Karen) and Andrew (Sadie), five grandchildren Nathanial (Clancy), Matthew (Kirsten), Christopher, Ryan and Samantha (Thomas) and three great grandchildren, Theodore, Caleb and Wesley.

Joyce was a remarkable woman who lived a very full life. Joyce was born in Nottingham, England, to Charles and Lilian Green on July 7, 1926. Due to the war, at the age of 13, Joyce had to be evacuated from London, being separated from her parents and her only sister, Dorothy. After the war, Joyce returned home where she graduated high school. Joyce determined to make the most of her life left to tour Europe with her best friends Robin and Benny. Following her European adventures, and wanting to work helping people, Joyce stretched her 4’ 11.5” frame to 5’ to meet the minimum height requirement to become a nurse and graduated from nursing on August 3, 1951. Never one to sit still for too long, Joyce packed up her bags and headed for Canada arriving on the east coast in 1953. Joyce joined the Royal Canadian Navy where she rose to the rank of Lieutenant (MN). She received her Canadian citizenship in October of 1958. By that time Joyce had purchased a car filled it with what possessions she had and drove across Canada to Victoria B.C. There she started a family with her first born son in February of 1960, followed by a second son in November of 1961, and a third son in March of 1963. Resolved to help make her community be all it could be and provide opportunities for her children to learn and be well rounded individuals Joyce started volunteering and putting all of her talents to work, which helped nurture her chief passion, her love of the arts. Joyce organized, ran and led a number of community initiatives including being a member of the PTA and school projects all the while continuing to work as a nurse, raise a family which included sailing and camping trips. Alas in 1970 it was time for Joyce to move again, taking her three young boys, jumping on a ferry to the mainland then taking a 3 day train trip from B.C to Montreal then drive the final leg to Quebec City, a new city, a new language and new challenges. It did not take long for Joyce to become involved, volunteering her time becoming a member of the English Library board, writing book reviews and appearing on a local television show to review books. Joyce became a Cub Scout leader organizing many fall, winter and spring camping trips with plenty of activities to encourage young people to become creative and develop themselves. Seven years after arriving in Quebec Joyce was on the move again heading East to Lewisporte Newfoundland taking up residence in 1977. Joyce was quick to get involved with the Library and worked with the local librarian to create and obtain funding for reading programs for young people. By this time her sons were no longer involved in Boy Scouts, however a group of young girls wanted to start a girl guide program and Joyce was eager to help. Her time in Lewisporte was relatively short, but she left a lasting mark with improved library programs and people from young and old discovering art through art classes Joyce organized. Joyce then moved to Ottawa in 1983, by this time her sons were grown and out on their own so Joyce, never one to be idle went back to University to work on her lifelong passion, art, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. During her time in Ottawa Joyce volunteered and worked at the Museum of Nature where she established the sleeping with the Dinosaurs program, a program that educated young people about the Dinosaur era through art and sleeping at the museum overnight with the dinosaurs. In 2000 Joyce moved to St. John’s Newfoundland to be closer to her son as she was getting older, but that didn’t mean not been active. Joyce’s passion for art and her desire to educate the young came together. As soon as Joyce was settled she purchased a car and headed out to the local elementary schools to teach art wherever she could an impact that was revealed by the numerous cards and thank-you notes from the school children, not bought cards, creations made from their imaginations. It didn’t take long before Joyce became a regular site at the Rooms, where she worked with others on youth art programs. Joyce has had an impact on so many people that extends outward every day. The world was a better place with her in it and we will miss her very much. Every time the clouds make a picture in the sky it will be from Joyce’s paint brush. Joyce’s life can’t be summed up in a paragraph, she was many things to many people, but most of all she was our Mother, and we love her and will miss her every day. Godspeed.