Obituary of Joyce Irene Preece

PREECE, Joyce Irene November 2, 1923 – January 14, 2017 Joyce (Nan), was a dedicated, devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was predeceased by her husband Fred, her brothers Harold and Norman, and sister Violet. She is survived by her daughters Heather and Jenny, grandchildren Caroline, James, Sarah and Annemarie, and great-grandchild Hannah. She was a strong and steadfast matriarch, with an impeccable sense of duty toward her family. Her thoughts were all so full of us, she never could forget. Nan glowed with adoration for her great grand-daughter Hannah. Born in Karachi, India, she spent much of her childhood in boarding school, where she was placed after the passing of her beloved father, James. Her mother, Irene, then took a position within the school as a cook to ensure Nan, her sister and two bothers, would be well taken care of. Nan had a passion for dance, especially the waltz. Her first beau was a dancer and she taught at his family-owned school of dance. She recalled those memories with plenty of ‘joie de vivre’. She loved classic movies, Ginger Rogers & Fred Astaire and held a fond affection for John Wayne and western films. In the following years, she would struggle, becoming well acquainted with hardship and sacrifice. She had a career as a supervisor for a British pharmaceutical company in Bombay, while raising her two daughters as a single mother. Later she would take early retirement, to become a homemaker and caregiver to her four grandchildren. Nan would eventually leave India to live in London, England, where she continued her dedication to family. She had a passion for cooking and accommodated a variety of meal requests in Indian and English cuisine; a specialty in rabbit stew for Uncle Reg. From Uncle Reg, she learned to love the ‘footie’ (football) and the art of winning at the ‘bookies’ (betting on sports, especially horse racing). In 1984, Nan immigrated to Canada, where she would continue to be an integral part of raising her then teen grandchildren into adulthood. Nan had a talent for knitting. In her spare time, she would knit babywear and donate the outfits to charities for unwed mothers. Nan’s last years were spent at Harmony Hills Long Term Care Home. There she would knit at the requests of nurses and caregivers, by whom she will always be fondly remembered. A survivor of several heart attacks and strokes, she finally succumbed to her illness, passing peacefully and quickly. She was a devout Christian with a great sense of spirituality. To My One and Only Nan … ‘if tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I’d walk right up to heaven and bring you home again’. Rest in peace my beloved, until we meet again. Friends and family can visit on Saturday, January 21, 2017 in the chapel of St. John The Baptist (Norway) Anglican Church, 470 Woodbine Ave, Toronto, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service to honour Joyce's life at 11:00 am, also in the chapel. Please enter the parking lot at the north entrance off of Woodbine Avenue. Interment will immediately follow in St. John's Norway Cemetery adjacent to the church. The family will then welcome friends back to St. John The Baptist (Norway) Anglican Church for a reception in the Fellowship Hall immediately following interment. Donations in memory of Joyce may be made to Birthright of Toronto by scrolling down to the link on this memorial webpage. Please help to create a legacy for Joyce (Nan) on her memorial web page by sharing in your stories, memories and photos here. Uniquely entrusted to eco Cremation & Burial Services. Life Celebrations. Done Differently.