Obituary of Joyce Welch

Biography - Joyce Welch Joyce Helen Welch passed away peacefully at the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at the age of 87 years. Joyce will be sadly missed by her three children: Lorne and Dorella Topley of Lashburn, Saskatchewan; Carol and Jack Body of Luseland, Saskatchewan and Linda and Dave Hanline of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. Also left to cherish her memory are eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren; one sister Lorna Stoddart (Bill) of Red Deer, Alberta, brother-in-law Bud Williams of Maidstone, Saskatchewan, four sisters-in-law, Mabel Nicholson of Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Mary Topley of Red Deer, Alberta, Ruby Wallace and Marilyn Topley of Surrey, British Columbia as well as numerous other relatives. She was predeceased by husbands Stewart Topley in 1970 and John Welch in 1986, brother Wallace Nicholson, sisters Dorothy Coolidge and Kathleen Williams and brothers-in-law Ira Coolidge, Jim Topley, and sister-in-law Verley Topley. The memorial service was conducted from the McCaw Funeral Chapel, Lloydminster, Alberta on Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. with Reverend Harold Martin officiating. The eulogy was read by grandson Ryan Topley. The instrumentalist was grandson Daniel Hanline who played "Amazing Grace" on the saxophone. The hymn sung was "In the Garden" accompanied on the organ by Irene Knowlson. The urn bearers were grandsons Jody Topley and Chris Hanline. McCaw Funeral Service of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy - Joyce Welch For those of you who don't know me, my name is Ryan Topley. On behalf of the entire Topley family, I would like to thank you for being with us today. Many of you have travelled great distances on short notice. We are truly thankful you are here. Today is a sad day. A day of grief and tears. A day no one welcomes. While it is a day for sadness, it is also a day to reflect and remember grandma. She certainly wouldn't want us fussing and being sad for her. That simply wasn't her way. Joyce Helen Nicholson was born in Lashburn June 11, 1922. She was #4 of 5 children. As a child her time was filled with activities varying from hard work on the farm to playing softball with her friends. After graduating teachers college, she was employed at the Swarthmore school near Rockhaven, Saskatchewan, when she met a dashing young man by the name of Leslie Stewart Topley. They were married in 1945, on the last day of the school year. 1949 saw Grandma and Grandpa move to Lashburn with 3 kids in tow: Lorne, Carol and Linda. Grandma was as busy as her kids. She was heavily involved in all aspects of 4H - particularly sewing and garden clubs, and spent time as leader of the 4H Garden club. The teaching genes ran deep in grandma. I've heard the only thing she would excuse you from chores for was homework. I have also heard that the kids seemed to have a lot of homework those days??!! She has even been known to teach biology class in some very interesting places - such as while eviscerating chickens!! She thought that was as neat as the kids did!! Grandma was a very fortunate woman. After Stewart passed in 1970, she was blessed to have John Welch enter her life. They married in 1974. Grandma and John lived 16 miles north of Lashburn in an old schoolhouse that I'm sure anyone who had ever been there would agree, was a one of a kind!! You never knew what you would find hanging on a wall, stored in the basement, or in the small outbuildings. Beehives, giant snakeskins, beaver pelts, it was many a grandkids heaven. John left us in 1986. While a very sad time for Grandma, she again relied on her incredible internal strength to pick up and press on. Anyone who knew Grandma knew she could walk almost as fast as she could think. She would walk from one side of Lashburn to the other and back with several heavy grocery bags in hand. She refused any help offered. Often this was 3 - 4 times a week. One morning while on her usual early morning walk, she noticed a fellow walking towards her. It was rare to have anyone else up and walking anywhere at that time of the day, so she was a little surprised. I'm sure she was smiling and laughing inside when she noticed it was her nephew Keith, on his way home from a party. The two swapped "hello's" and carried on their way. Grandma was the kind of person who enjoyed her time with family and friends, and we enjoyed ours with her. She could (and would) beat you ruthlessly at cards one moment, and be gently reading you a story the next (although I'm pretty sure she was cheating in more than a few of those card games!!) Although we have had to spend the last several years watching the fire and zest slowly recede; we should be grateful. This time allowed all of us the opportunity to return to her all the love and caring she gave us for so many years. Grandma you will be missed but not forgotten. Card of Thanks The families of Joyce Welch would like to thank our extended family, friends and neighbors for their support and caring. Thank you to the staff at the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre for the loving and compassionate care given to our mom. Thank you to Reverend Harold Martin for his kind words, grandsons Ryan Topley for doing the eulogy, Daniel Hanline for the saxophone solo, Jody Topley and Chris Hanline for being urn bearers. Thanks also to Irene Knowlson for playing the organ, to the U.C.W. women (Lashburn) for serving the delicious lunch at the Knox Presbyterian Hall. Thank you to McCaws for their caring and professionalism. Thank you to our family and friends for the flowers, phone calls, food, cards and donations; your thoughtfulness will not be forgotten. Lorne & Del Topley and families Carol & Jack Body and families Linda & Dave Hanline and families Donations in memory of Joyce may be made to the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre South Wing.