Joy Alice Bird (nee Fogg)
April 22nd 1950 -
April 7th 2013
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of our incredibly special wife, mother, sister and grandmother. Joy passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 7th, age 62, surrounded by her family, after suffering a severe and unrecoverable stroke. Predeceased by her father, Walter, and mother, Marie, she is survived by husband of 40 years, Bill, daughters Shevaun (Rod) and Danielle (Andreas), grand-dog Lula, grand-daughter Sienna, sister Leone, brother Bruce (Holly) and nieces Sara (Dean), Stephanie and Jaime.
Joy was born in Vancouver and came to Campbell River as a young child when her father accepted a teaching job at Elm Street School. She grew up in Campbell River, graduating from Carihi in 1968. She earned a teaching degree at UVic and taught for a year in Pemberton, before returning to Campbell River with her husband, Bill, in 1975. They settled on Quadra Island soon after and Joy began teaching at Quadra Elementary, where she continued to work until 1978 when she stepped back to be a devoted mom for several years. She returned to teaching as her children were growing up, working for stretches at Quadra Elementary and Evergreen Elementary before retiring in 2006. During retirement, she spent as much time as she could with her growing family: travelling, skiing, tending her garden and learning to golf. She was active in the Quadra community, involving herself in the Quilt and Garden Tour, the Fall Fair, the Quadra Garden Club, her ladies hiking group, and, most recently, the landscaping of the Quadra Golf Course. She brought enthusiasm and positivity to everything she did and had a big smile for anyone she came in contact with. She will be dearly missed and fondly remembered as a truly remarkable individual who always quietly made time for others.
The family would like to thank the Quadra Island Emergency Response Team, the Quadra ferry crew, Dr Jennifer Grace and the ICU nurses for their compassionate care and support. We also sincerely thank our family friends for their outpouring of love and support. There will be a Celebration of Joy's Life on Sunday, April 14th at 11:00am at the Quadra Community Centre. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joy's honour to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.