March 19th, 1935 - March 11th, 2024
Joyce fought her long hard battle with cancer with dignity, humour and grace. Hers was truly an incredible journey as she continued painting, visiting with friends, enjoyed 'Joy rides' in her car and laughing. But alas she transitioned, escaping a dreaded disease in the early morning hours of March 11th, 2024.
Joyce was truly a fighter and we are blessed that her pain and suffering from rapidly growing lung, breast and bone cancer was relatively short lived. We all know she is at Peace now and deserves to be free of her bodily suffering.
We, her family, are appreciative of, and grateful for, the presence of many in her circle of care and friendship.
Born in 1935, the baby of a family of 7, Joyce didn’t recognize her brother back from WW2. She learned to drive a tractor and was happiest outdoors working the 400 acre farm with her Dad, (Thomas Harding /M. Ethelinda ne Clark),skating the river, and walking or sliding a mile everyday to the one room schoolhouse in Port Perry that she attended for grades 2-8.(She skipped through first grade) She earned being pardoned from school months early in the spring due to her good grades in order to help on the farm in the 40’s.
A Piano player with a great voice, and with a love of dancing to the big band sound, Joyce became a court reporter in Toronto and lived on Toronto’s Centre Island through a maelstrom with her best girlfriend, making the world her oyster. She married an only child, Joe Kranitz and in Montreal raised two sons and two daughters (Joseph Thomas/w. Laura, Jackie Sehgal/h. Ajai, Julie Kranitz/h. Vic, John/w. Jennifer ). Brother Ross Harding built her house in Bolsover, ON after she retired as Executive Secretary to the Chair of the Dept of Philosophy and Religion at Concordia University in Montreal and she lived In Bolsover and worked at Lindsey Memorial Hospital for 10 years before moving to Gatineau QC to run an Antique Business.
Joyce retired again and enjoyed many years living on Georgian Bay in Barrie ON until settling near her younger daughter’s family in NewMarket ON. From being a regular at Senior Dances to Painting clubs; playing street hockey with her two grandsons Charlie and Steven Andrade while seeing them grow into fine men; or visiting her three granddaughters Jamie Kane/h. Mitch, Jillian Lovett/h. Zach, and Julia Sehgal in Osoyoos BC, Washington state and AZ, USA, Joyce laughed and loved, even cradling her first grandchild Isla Kane as a one month old.(Now great-grandmother to Isla, Freya and Oscar Kane, ages 4,3 and 1 years old)
Fond of dogs, Joyce owned English Setters, Vicky and Sunshine after her childhood family pets, and dearly pampered and lovingly touched all the other dogs who shared her life: Hendrix, Bailey, Sarah, Tara, Piper, Rosie and Oni. They all knew a fellow great soul when they met Joyce and all clamored for her company, laughter and love, which was always freely given.
Joyce’s superpower was her ability to Listen and Love, she never gave feedback but rather supported everyone she knew by active listening and confidentiality, never uttering a negative or unkind word in person or about anyone behind their back. She lived independently, asking as little as possible from anyone and she dealt with chronic pain and the growing limitations of lung, bone and breast cancer with privacy and dignity. Her goal was to become Grandma Moses after she retired and she succeeded by becoming first a wonderful landscape oil painter then a phenomenal watercolour artist of Canadian deciduous forests and rivers, always capturing the movement and gurgling of babbling, sun-dappled streams and oceans, and the quiet beauty of country barns.
Painting all four seasons, whether they be farm and Sugaring off (Maple Sugar Sap Run) or seaside scenes and equestrian pastorage, her wonderful subjects always elicited a tranquil peace on the canvas. Her final wish was to be cremated and laid to rest in the plot with her parents alongside her brother, whose spot she lovingly shared; at rest, cremated and alongside parents and a brother who taught her well by their example.
JOY KMJH
A dawn,
then moments woven into days
loving helpers shaping the years
creating the One
who becomes the light and strength,
inspiration and life source, love
for a cascade spun through
generations, tapestried memories
embedded attributes of goodness
Uma, Oma, Madre, Maji
Our Mom Joyce
The golden sunset
who tucks us in at night
safely, securely
Sweet dreams
Rest now
We always felt Listened to and Loved…
In Memory of Our Mother
Joyce Harding March 19 1935-March 11 2024
Mom loved flowers but her memory is best served by a donation to the Margaret Bahen Hospice in Newmarket, ON where she experienced the love that lives there, exceptional medical care and nurturance and found Peace in a beautiful setting.
Click Here to Donate
Arrangements entrusted to Roadhouse and Rose Funeral Home