The family of Joy Wright sadly announces her passing on March 8, 2017 at Wayside House in Victoria, B.C. surrounded by the love of her family and friends.
The oldest of four children, Joy was born in 1924 to Ethel and Valentine Kirchner in Chemainus, B.C. She spent her formative years in Powell River where her father was employed at the pulp mill. Joy was cast into the difficult role of helping to raise her brothers, John, David and Peter after her father died in 1937 and the family moved to Victoria.
Joy graduated from Victoria High School in 1942, and worked in the Victoria Library until she married Gordon William Stamford in 1947.
Their first child, Richard ”Sage Birchwater” was born a year later, then Pamela “Smirl” in 1953, followed by Michael in 1962. In 1965, Christopher completed the Stamford family.
From an early age, Joy was passionate about music and often sang as a soloist in various churches in Victoria. She always had a special connection with young children and was a founder of the Greater Victoria Co-operative Preschool Association where she taught for several years.
In 1976, Joy’s husband, Gordon passed away. After bringing up her two youngest sons alone through their high school years, Joy married Herbert Wright in 1983. Bert’s three daughters, Janis “Corner”, Paris “Russell” and Dallis “Morash” brought an added richness to Joy’s expanded family.
The couple built their beautiful waterfront home at Maple Bay near Duncan, B.C., and it was there that the blended family enjoyed many happy memories including several lovely weddings.
After Bert passed away in 1996, Joy moved back to Victoria and began a new chapter in her life travelling and enjoying the antics of her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly. Finally, at 90, Joy moved into Wayside House where she could live in the supportive environment of her Christian Science faith.
Joy heralded inclusiveness among people of different races and religions. She embraced the world in an elevated sense of love, or as she would say, “Divine Love”.
She had a childlike innocence about her and a love for everything pure from REAL butter and Devonshire cream to how she viewed life. She saw herself and those around her as pure complete children of God. Joy loved life and living and she was an example for all of us of someone who stood true to her Principle and continued to embrace her Christian Science faith through her life despite struggles, tragedies and disappointments.
“…I will follow and rejoice, all the rugged way.” [Mary Baker Eddy]
We will miss the “Joy” of our lives.
A service celebrating Joy’s life will take place on Sunday, June 4th at Wayside House, 550 Foul Bay Road, at 2 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wayside House.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
mccallgardens.com.
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Peter and Christine Shippen
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Connie Christiansen I knew Joy Wright (Stamford) through her wonderful daughter Pamela, for 45 years. She was a wonderful and devoted mother and grandmother, and treated everyone around her with love, kindness and acceptance. She had a special twinkle in her eye, and made anyone feel special when they were around her. She will truly be missed.
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Dianne Hodgins This is a note of appreciation for the pleasure of knowing Joy Wright. Her keen and active interest in life and the lives of those around her were a blessing. Her love and appreciation for all she knew was always evident. Her presence was always a welcome addition anywhere.
Last week, just after I had noticed that I had lost a little diamond chip from one of my rings, I read an email that told of Joy’s passing, and it felt like that had just happened with Joy’s passing. Something is missing, and missed, but with Joy, still shining.
It was a true pleasure to have known Joy Wright, and we enjoyed our social times with her immensely. A very intelligent and engaging “true lady”, that we will miss, and wish we had been able to visit more often. Our thoughts are with the family.