Obituaries

FARMER (NEE CATT) , Joycelyn

February 5, 1922 – July 7, 2020

We lost some Joy on July 7, 2020, when Joycelyn (Catt) Farmer left us to enter her newest adventure as she joined her husband, Pat, and son, Terry and reunited with all of her ancestral lineages of blood and heart.

Life began for Joy at home on the family farm in Lumby, B.C. on February 5, 1922 into a world without electric power and limited communications. She lived through an extraordinary era of tumult and exponential changes. Joy rose to greet every new challenge til the end of her days and at 98 years of age was still texting on her new iPhone or FaceTiming on her IPad... sometimes to her 96 year old sister, Nickie; and daily to one or other of her family. She remembered each of her progeny’s birthdays (by blood or through marriage) without fail.

Joy lived a long, rich and productive life for 98 years...it is only in the past six months that her days became circumscribed by declining health, lessening mobility and the isolation of Covid-19. Not one to complain, her smiling, joyous face accompanied her good nature wherever she was, and she was surrounded by kindly people who were drawn to her ever present sparkle and gentle, loving ways.

Joy was a giver. Generous in every way, she left her childhood home of Lumby, B.C. and enlisted in the Royal Air Force during WWII. Joy was a proficient wireless operator, communicating with the pilots as they ran their missions, and grieving when they failed to return to base.

After the war, she met Pat, a Navy veteran from Enderby, at the Vernon Business School. Their unique chemistry resulted in marriage on April 15, 1947 and by 1951, Joy was the busy mother of three little ones. Through the first decades as wife and mother, she was active as a Boy Scout leader; contributed in myriad little ways to the local school and town; and was an engaged member of her Catholic parish. She also worked part-time at the Enderby Post Office for many years once her children were in school.

When Pat became the Mayor of Enderby, she enjoyed accompanying him to various civic duties...and one highlight was attending a dinner party in Vernon honouring the Royal visit with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. This occasion was a bookend of sorts for Joy, as she had been chosen as a young, excited schoolgirl from Lumby to greet King George VI upon his visit in Vancouver in the 1930’s, thus the second Royal event felt magical to her.

Joy loved gardening, and flowers were her delight, along with watching the hundreds of dinner guests that flocked to her bird feeders just outside the kitchen window.

Joy was a small town girl who loved nature and the simple goodness of life, but she also loved travel and cultures and had many stories to tell as she flew and cruised her way around many parts of the globe with family and friends.

After losing her husband and son, Joy moved into Columbus Court, an assisted living facility in Vernon, B.C. She spent nearly 14 years there, enjoying a chapter of her life which included many new friends, social activities, an occasional trip to a casino, and the happiness of having her sister in law, Dorothy, as a table mate!

Joy’s fine wit and clear intellect remained with her throughout her life and was an integral part of her being. She was prepared to listen and discuss any topic with awareness, openness and thoughtful consideration. Her religious faith was profound and her trust in her God allowed her the freedom to seek inquiry and wisdom everywhere.

But family was the main contributor to her personal joy. Her three children, her ten grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren brought her unending delight and solace. She also welcomed into her heart and life three step grandchildren and two more great grandchildren.

We will miss her terribly, but at the same time, we hold enormous gratitude in our hearts and minds for the gift that she was for each of us and for the generosity of spirit that she exhibited wherever she went.

We love you forever, Mom, Grandma, GiGi, Bob, Cheryl, Pat, Jackie, Linda, Brandi, Tamilee (Jeff), Christa( Jason), Holly (Cole), Simone (Paul), Jeremy (Joyce), Celeste, Andrea (Stef), Allan, Lonni (Mitch), Nathanial, Jonathan, Logan, Jack, Tyler, Carson, Mason, Matthew, Max, Terran, Jordyn, Christopher, Oaklyn, Cash, Charlee, Jaz, Addison, Makayla, Jaycob, Kila, Declan, Lennox.

Due to Covid limits, unfortunately, there is only room for family to attend. Joy’s funeral will be at 11:30 AM on Friday, July 10, 2020 at St. Ann’s Church in Enderby, B.C. with burial to follow afterward. A celebration of life will be planned for a later date.

Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family at www.MyAlternatives.ca.

Link: www.MyAlternatives.ca

Condolence Messages

Jul 13, 2020
Our sincere sympathy to all Joys family on her passing to eternal rest. We first met her in 1969 & we cannot forget her welcome & that of her family. She will always be remembered by us!

Tom & Mary Margaret Daly. Mullingar.Rep of lreland
Jul 12, 2020
Our sincere condolences to the Farmer family, you had a wonderful mother, Eugene and Julia Rohrer.
Jul 10, 2020
Heaven gained an Angel.

My sincere Sympathy to Joy’s Family & Friends.

Georgina Pasemko-Snyder
Jul 10, 2020
Joy sounds like an amazing and delightful person. May she rest in peace.

Our sincere condolences to Cheryl and Allen and all of the Farmer family. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Sue McCalla and Talib Ray
Jul 10, 2020
Sincere condolences to you all. Auntie Joy was well named,as I believe she brought much joy to everyone who knew her.Sending you all much love and hugs! Pierrette Johnson
Jul 09, 2020
To all the Farmer families-How fortunate you were to have such a beautiful, sweet, loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother in your family. Having known her all my life, I know what a great loss this is to your family. She left a great legacy in all her beautiful children and their families. Keep all those loving memories in your heart and be so thankful she was in your lives so long. Love you all, Sandy and the MacPherson family
Jul 09, 2020
Our sincere condolences to Bob and Jacqui and family. Joy was a second mother to the neighbourhood playmates of Terry and Bob. Our thoughts are with you, Rick and Jeanne Garner
Jul 09, 2020
Sincere condolences to the Farmer family, our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time of sorrow, may Joy Rest In Peace, and the family cherish her memories. Love from the O’Connor/Brisebois families.
Jul 09, 2020
Our deepest condolences to aunt Cheryl and Allen and all the Farmer family you have lost a wonderful woman with a beautiful soul. God bless you all.

Louise and Mireille xoxo
Jul 09, 2020
RIP Joy, thank you for your service to our country.

To Joys family...she sounds like a truly amazing person whom I would have liked to have known. You all, are so blessed to have had her in your lives.

Sincerely Rick V