Obituary of Joyce Nadine Munro

MUNRO – JOYCE NADINE – September 5, 1930 – March 10, 2014 “Perseverance, Inner Strength and Determination” After a multi-year battle against the ravages of Parkinson’s Disease and most recently, pneumonia, Joyce lost her struggle on March 10, 2014. Joyce exemplified the qualities of perseverance, inner strength and determination – offering inspiration to everyone who knew her. While the Parkinson’s slowly took away her ability to move, to talk and to eat – she was steadfast in her determination to live as independently as possible – and to do so with dignity, with grace and without complaint. Perseverance, inner strength and determination – that is how we will remember her. Joyce was born on September 5, 1930 in Cardell / Maple Creek, Saskatchewan to Russell and Mabel Tedrick and was the sixth of ten children. She lived her early years in Vanguard and for the past 66 years was proud to make Swift Current her home. Family defined Mom’s life and nothing else took priority. The Tedrick clan was never far away and gatherings of aunts, uncles and cousins were large and frequent. To her, her greatest achievements were her children and grandchildren. She was married in 1955 to Ronald J.N. Munro and together they raised 4 children, Brent (Anna Fung), Brad (Susan), Barry (Val) and Rhonda (Gerry) Fiske. Dad passed away in 1990 and Mom then focused the rest of her life on being a ‘grandma’. She was grandmother to Camille, Kodi, Kerrin, Jessie, Alexandra, Reagan, Brody, Riley and Logan. Family vacations were always a big undertaking; limited budgets, hot cars, and Dad’s even hotter temper. After ‘dutifully’ carrying all suitcases to the car, Mom always vacuumed the house as we sat in the car waiting to go – heaven forbid the floor have a speck of dirt on it when we got home! In addition to raising her family, Joyce worked at Dominion Fruit, the Coopers department store, at a chiropractor’s office and was integral in the organization and operation of the Dunn-Munro summer hockey school for many years in the 1970’s and early 80’s. In her earlier years Joyce was also active as leader of the Brownies (Girl Guides); in the Shrine Ladies Auxiliary, the Eastern Star and a long-time volunteer at the weekly First United Church rummage sale. She was an avid gardener and loved animals (and nature shows) of all kinds, with a special passion for birds. She loved to knit. She played ball, golfed and curled when young and loved to bowl until Parkinson’s took her balance away. She also tried boogie boarding and snorkeling in Hawaii, riding the sea-doo and canoe in La Ronge and even accepted getting plopped on a snowmobile in the dead of winter in her late 70’s – in all cases not wanting to admit she was too scared to not try. Mom was predeceased by her husband Ron (1990); her parents Russell (1973) and Mabel (1990); Ron’s parents Bill (1976) and Dorothy (2007). She was also predeceased by her sisters Iola (1975), Olive (Sis) (2011), Juanita (2012) and brothers Jim (1994), Harry (2007) and Gordon (2001). Joyce is survived by her children and grandchildren and her sisters, Enid and Eleanor and brother Bob. Joyce’s family wants to express our heartfelt appreciation to both her Swift Current relatives (especially Enid, Denise and Dianne) and to all of the staff and residents at Riverview Village – Joyce’s home for the past 10 years. Without the friendship, support and care of these family members and the many residents and staff of Riverview (all who became part of her extended family) Joyce’s quality of life would have been nowhere near as rich. A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 1:30 pm at Parkside Memorial Funeral Home. A reception will be held at Riverside Village Estates at 3:00 pm. While Joyce loved flowers of all sorts, no flowers please. Donations to the Saskatchewan Parkinson’s Association will be gratefully acknowledged with the hope that someday a cure to this awful disease can be found.