Joyce Ware was born Joyce Ellen Sumner on April 2, 1936. She passed away on June 13, 2025.
Predeceased by both her parents Edna and Gordon Sumner and by her sister, Myrna Peterson, she is survived by a brother Rayburn Sumner, and a son Allan, stepson James, step daughter Pauline, and two daughters Leona and Donna, grandchildren David, Laurie.
Joyce was born in Neepawa, Manitoba. She lived most of her life in Central and southern BC, and although she did live for a while in Winnipeg and Chicago she liked the rivers and mountains here in the west. After moving to Kamloops area in 1978, and getting a job at Overlander Residential Care after her husband left, she was able to purchase her first home to raise her daughters in. She had many friends in the area, and was always busy knitting which was her favourite thing to do. She was always knitting baby blankets for anybody she heard that was having a baby, even if she didn’t know them personally. She would also knit doll clothing and dish clothes by the dozens for all her friends.
For many years after her retirement, she would volunteer for the Overlander staff by going on outings with the residents whenever they needed assistance to go shopping or for appointments. She was even recognized by the Mayor Terry Lake with a plaque and an article in the local newspaper for her volunteer work. She was also a member of the Legion where she used to like to go dancing, The Order of Eagles, and The Red Hatter’s.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, July 15th at 11am, 2025 in the Kamloops Funeral Home, 285 Fortune Drive.
Condolences may be sent to the family at
www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com
2 Tributes
I will remember Aunty Joyce’s generosity and care with fondness, all the phone calls we shared, all the hand-knitted dish cloths, and all the good wishes she sent me over the years. Aside from the last few years, I don’t think she ever forgot my birthday. With heartfelt sympathy for your loss, Linda
I served Joyce at Tims North Shore many years ago. I enjoyed our chats over the counter. Joyce was a very direct person on opinions and I liked that. When my daughter passed in 2006, even though she never met my daughter, she phoned me and later showed up to the informal gathering at my home with a banana loaf “picked up from a bake sale” and with her little doggie in tow. She was so very kind. Always remembered.