Obituary of Joyce Marjorie Meades

Joyce Marjorie Meades (nee Knight) slipped peacefully away on April 11, 2024, at the age of 101 at Henley Place, London. Wife of the late Lawrence (Jack) Meades (Dec 7^th, 2007) for 62 years. Mother of Judy (Dick) Masse, Doug (Barb) Meades and Paul (Linda) Meades. Grandmother of Denine (Al) Gough, Jennifer (Tim) Cronsberry, Richard Masse (late Maarit); the late Scott (Kendra) Meades, Katie Meades, Peter (Heidi) Meades; Jaclyn (Adam) Duskocy, and Brandie (Pete) Cooper. Great Grandmother of Blake (Jess) Gough and Laura (Christian) King; Bronte and Jack (Kaitlyn) Cronsberry; Sylvia and R.J. Masse; Olivia Walker; Dara and Simon Meades; Madeline, Megan, and Nolan Duskocy; Ryan and Gabrielle Cooper and great-great grandmother of Emerson King.  Predeceased by her 9 siblings Chas, Katie, Les, Elsie, Marion Len, Doug, George and Roy. Joyce is fondly remembered by her many nieces and nephews.

Joyce was born March 8^th, 1923 in St Catharines to Charles and Agnes (Newman) Knight. Joyce was the 9^th of 10 children. It was a busy household, and her mother had her hands full with the 3 brothers next to Joyce. Joyce spent the war years living with her brother Doug’s wife Ruth while he was overseas. They became lifelong friends and sisters. Those memories of their fun times together still brought smiles to Mom’s face. Joyce and Ruth worked for Dominion Stores and soon a handsome young manager with a motorcycle swept Joyce off her feet. How we wish that a picture of Joyce and Jack on the Indian motorcycle survived. Jack and Joyce were married at St John’s Anglican Church in Jordan May 23^rd, 1945. Soon 3 children followed as they made their homes in King City (Meades Bros. General Store), Toronto, Willowdale, North York, Georgetown, London, Mississauga, Brampton, Glenelg Centre and finally St Marys. Oh, how they loved St Marys! What a perfect fit, close to their kids and grandchildren, their church, the Legion, the Friendship Centre, and wonderful new friends. 

Joyce was a kind, gentle soul, happy and content with her lot in life. We knew we were loved. Mom was a devoted mother. Mom would take on any task to make our home a comfortable safe place to be. She cooked, sewed, mended and was forever a support for Jack and her kids. Joyce was a talented sewer, knitter, and quilter. Many of her creations still survive and are treasured in our homes.

She was a Brown Owl in the Guide movement and a member of the Altar Guild and ACW at her church. Joyce and Jack loved to travel and visited, the British Isles, Spain, Malta, Cuba, and Florida. For their first trip, Joyce surprised a reluctant Jack at work with the suitcases packed and tickets for The Canadian, a train going across Canada. That was enough to get Jack hooked on travelling.

We honour our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great, great grandmother. Surely a life well lived and loved. We are privileged to have been the centre of her world.