December 24, 1942 – November 03, 2024
Joyce passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 03, after spending some time at the Golden Birches Terrace in Blind River, ON.
Loving wife of David Ratz, generous and proud mother to Lorelie (Greg), Jodan (Sarah), and Sarah (Chris), daughter of Bernard (1980) and Eileen Hastilow (1972) and Helen Hastilow (2003), and big sister to Ted Hastilow, she was born and raised in Waterloo before getting married and moving to Elmira with her lifelong love David. So special to her, she cherished every moment she could spend with her four grandchildren Maddy and Ellie Ratz and Chloe and Max Plouffe. Granny will be greatly missed, but has left them all with so many special memories. She will also be missed by her many friends including those from her life in Elmira, teaching, quilting, art class, class of Mac ’66, the RWTO, and her retirement years at Clear Lake.
Following graduation from the University of Guelph (Mac ’66), she went on to teachers’ college in London and started her career at Elmira District Secondary School. After the arrival of her three children, she re-directed her focus on raising them. A devoted mother who ensured that they all had a life full of opportunities, creativity and experiences. She returned to teaching at Listowel Public School before retiring at Clear Lake in Northern Ontario with David. Joyce had so many interests - cooking, sewing, quilting, dancing, travelling (family trips across Canada in Henrietta Sunshine) and was an amazing artist as many will know from her countless watercolours and oil paintings that adorned her life. She was an active community member approaching everything that she did with passion and enthusiasm, bringing her positive energy to everyone near her.
In retirement, she and David followed their dream to build a new home on Clear Lake, the site of the summer cottage that was full of so many great memories with family and friends. Joyce loved swimming in “her lake”, they travelled often to maintain contact with family and friends in southern Ontario, while building many new relationships closer to home. She loved to paint, carve, knit, sing in the choir, square dance, walk in the bush, attend and host dinner parties, putting her heart and soul into everything that she did, and spent her time doing the things that made her and David happy.
Joyce was an intelligent, kind-hearted and generous soul, an amazing mother, wife and grandmother, and did her best to bring joy to life for her family and everyone around her.
Memories of her unique sense of humour – aka Joyceisms or Grannyisms – she made us all laugh and will be cherished by all who knew her.
David and the family would like to thank all the caring staff at the Golden Birches Terrace in Blind River who demonstrated unwavering compassion and kindness to Joyce these last few months. A celebration of life is being planned where friends will be received to cherish their memories of Joyce. More details will be provided once confirmed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Family Council NSHN Long-Term Care Golden Birches Terrace or to the charity of your choice.