Joyce Mary Dalgleish

Born February 2, 1926

Died February 14, 2012

Beloved wife of Edward Gordon Dalgleish; sister of Eric Pearcey; mother to Mary, John (Cathy), and Elizabeth (Ruben) and loving grandmother to Ruben, Adriana, and Mariana Dalgleish-Morales. Joyce was a kind and gentle person. She loved God, her husband and family, BOOKS, birds, gardens, music and the company of friends. She used to say that she took up environmental activism, with the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, in her retirement, in order to help leave a better world for her grandchildren to live in. Many thanks to Tracey Leitch, her wonderful care provider, The Alzheimer’s Society of BC and Father Lewis of Christ Church Cathedral, for his spiritual care.

A Memorial Service will be held in Christ Church Cathedral at 2:00 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012.

“I remember so many things about my mother. She had such knowledge, and could recite poetry in an instant. If there was something about which she was not sure, we would always head to the only real reference, The Oxford English Dictionary, well worn by now. Her love of music was immense, and she exposed us to a great variety, from classical to Gordon Lightfoot and Simon and Garfunkel. She was fun loving, and instigated summer water fights on the back patio of the California house. Her gardening skills were legendary, which the new owners of the California house discovered when the daffodils sprouted during their first winter. They also marvelled at the rich growing soil she created with the compost none of her children wanted to save or take out. She was devoted to books, reading for herself, her family and for many children at story hours. She was especially fond of the children of migrant farm workers in Moorpark who had little but were so appreciative. Educating her children about the causes she embraced, we did not eat commercially grown lettuce or table grapes for years and she made sure we knew why. She was ahead of her time, recycling many things. She kept the veterinary clinic supplied with newspapers, and was a regular at the recycling center. She became a valuable resource to the faculty at California Lutheran College and was often called into classrooms to discuss poetry and English literature. Her stories of life during World War II in London were a glimpse into the history that shaped her early life. I now understand how important history was, and remains. Her nursing training served her well and I still compare my attempts at bandage wrapping to her perfect ones. Retirement was a great adventure to her, she loved Victoria and all it has to offer. Walking along the Gorge was routine until her health prevented it. She was a loving grandmother and her grandchildren continue to hear Grandma stories. She was fiercely devoted to her loving husband and I will always measure the institution of marriage by their example. She will be long remembered for the brilliant, passionate woman she was throughout her life.”                              …Liz

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

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