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Kendall Joseph Joyce
July 28, 1956 - February 18, 2021
Tribute
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kendall Joseph Joyce at the age of 64 on Thursday February 18, 2021. Ken was born on July 28, 1956 to Patrick and Agnes Joyce. He was the baby of a family of six children Tommy, Jimmy, Sally, Suzie, Kevin and Kenny. His big family was the foundation for how Ken would carry on his own life. He was so proud to be a Joyce and his family was the most important piece of his life. He respected and admired his parents and siblings always. Ken had many nieces and nephews who he loved very much and was always excited to see them and hear about their lives.
He met his sweetheart Susan when she was 16 and he was 19. They married December 2, 1978 and have two wonderful children Sean (Lori) & Kristina (Christopher). Ken was very close to Susan’s family and was always there for them. His children both gave Ken his greatest joy and gift, his grandsons Coen 7 and Finley 2. Being a father was Ken’s greatest achievement and there was nothing that made him prouder than his children. He was that Dad that they could call anytime and he would be there for them or help them in any way he could. As his children grew and came to have their own accomplishments he shared in their happiness and was full of pride. There isn’t another man as close to his children in an individual way than he was. He had his own special relationship with his daughter in- law Lori and son in- law Christopher and was as proud of them as he was his own children.
Ken achieved his Sprinkler fitter Red Seal ticket in 1979 and had a successful career working for over 41 years. Through those years he made many friends and had the opportunity to teach and guide many young men who today credit him for their start in their careers. Ken was a natural teacher and mentor, and has taught so many of us in different ways. Mostly in patience, generosity, kindness and to have a sense of humour.
Ken enjoyed the outdoors and being active. He was a natural athlete and better than average at almost anything he chose to do. He was known to work hard and play hard. Ken always lived in the moment and determined to live his life to the fullest. Ken was beloved by all he met, his humour and willingness to help anyone without question made him a person admired by all. There was an ease to his spirit that made him an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
Ken will forever be missed!!
Due to the pandemic, a celebration of life will organized at a later date.
In lieu of flowers or if you wish to honor Ken, please donate to either Diabetes, Kidney or Cancer societies.
Condolences
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From: Lori Joyce
Relation: Daughter-in-Law
To the man who was so much more to me than just my father-in-law…..to the man who always made me feel welcome in his family and always made my eggs perfectly. To the man who made the best blueberry pancakes, and always took my side when Sean and I had a “disagreement”. To the man who never said no to anything and never expected anything in return. To the man who was always up for a family adventure, and always had the best and most extravagant tarp set-up for camping. To the man who loved to fish with the guys and go on vacations somewhere hot. To the man who always made me laugh. There are so many memories I will cherish forever but there is so much of you in Sean and Coen that you will always be with us. I love you so much, thank you for always being there and just for being you.
From: Bob Langton
Relation: Brother from another mother
I have spent the last couple of days with both tears in my eyes and a smile on my face reminiscing about my life with Ken. I have known the Joyce family for more than 60 years. My friendship with Ken started early on. We were inseparable as kids and to this day I still feel sorry for all the trouble we caused our parents. I spent a good part of my childhood at the Joyce’s house. We didn’t have a lot of money and we made our own fun. Games like “Ghost tag” in the basement where we eliminated all light and chased each other around in the dark destroying anything in our path. “Spoons” was another game which consisted of placing spoons upstairs in Ken’s bedroom on the top bunk, one less than the number of kids playing. We then played cards in the basement or kitchen and when we got a certain card we all fought to get to the spoons. Again running over furniture and kicking holes in the walls. You didn’t want to be the one without a spoon in the end. The list of fun playing all kind of sports and activities was never ending.
In our teen years we moved over to our house as I have three beautiful sisters and they had many friends. This is where Sue comes in. I can still remember the two of them eyeing each other up and I knew then they were a match forever. Our house became a gathering place for many as Mom and Dad took on the role as both friends and sometimes surrogate parents. We sometimes took advantage of this. We would have poker nights in the middle of the week and I remember my father coming out in his underwear at two in the morning asking us to keep it down because he had to work in the morning. One such night, when one of our friends when to the bathroom I stacked the deck so that when we dealt the cards he got 4 aces. The look on his face as he went all in and the shock when we showed our cards and we all had straight flushes. We all laughed so hard.
Ken and I embarked on many adventures together and he was always agreeable for whatever we came up with. When I got my first car (an “NSU prinz – google it) we decided to embark on a wilderness getaway… all the way to a lake half way to Whistler. The car was so small and there were three of us so we took the back seat out and made one with Beer cases. That trip saw me with third degree burns, Ken lost his front teeth and our friend Ron got so drunk we tied empty beer bottles (like cow bells) around his neck so we could find him in the woods. Best camping trip ever!
Ken and I travelled to Europe in the early 70’s (arranged by Sue). Back then travelling was much more than it is today. The flight was awesome, good food and free drinks in the lounge! I don’t remember much of the flight but Ken was a big hit as there was a Rugby team on board and he was wearing a fresh Rugby injury on his face. We landed in London and travelled over to Amsterdam where we caught a ride on the “Magic Bus” (yes that’s what it was called) to Athens. It must have looked like the bus was on fire with all the smoke coming out the back as we drove down the road. Ken decided to leave his passport in a restaurant in Paris and had to hitchhike back but we met up in Athens and proceeded to the Greek Islands. Even though I have travelled the world since, this is the most memorable.
Ken was the first of the group to start a family. I remember going over to the Joyce’s at Xmas and Ken, Sue and the new family where there. I thought to myself how lucky they were and yes I wanted that, and I so did. During our adult life, work, family and just life took up much of our time but we were always there for each other. Most recently we got together to help a friend “Terry” with renovating a cabin he purchased north of Toronto. When we got there we found out the plan had change and we were now tearing the place down and building a new one. Even though I could tell that Ken was not 100% at that time, I could not keep up. I never knew it could rain that hard and was done before we were half way through but Ken did not stop. We/I nick named him “getter done Ken” by the end. We talked about life on the way back and I could tell that Ken was aware of what was ahead of him. Even then he was living life to the limit and not looking back.
I am so happy to have had Ken in my life. I miss you every day.
From: Lisa Shannon
Relation: Friend
My heart is breaking for you Sue, Sean and Kristina and the entire Joyce family. Ken was such a great loving kind guy, he made me feel welcome the minute I met him. We shared a lot of laughs and had some fun cottage times when “the Vancouver Boys” came to Muskoka; him barefoot skiing, seeing Alana Miles concert with Terry, Bob and Gord…never a dull moment. More recently Ken was a huge help with our cottage Reno!!! He kept Terry and the boys in line, working hard even in the 5 days of non stop rain. His determination for getting it done was so evident. We are so Thankful for all of his help…we are sad that he can’t enjoy the cottage with us..he’s a big part of that and we are forever grateful! The great memories will remain in my heart forever
From: Donna-Lee Langton
Relation: Friend
Growing up across the lane from the Joyce’s created an unbreakable bond between our two families and, as if that wasn’t gift enough, gave us all a life-long friendship with Ken.
My brother-from-another-mother, he was a constant source of kindness, laughter and love. In the 60+ years that I knew him, I can’t remember a single unkind word or action on his part.
When I see Ken in my mind’s eye, he is smiling and laughing and without doubt, I am laughing along with him. He brought the perspective of fun to everything he did and the biproduct of that was the joy he spread to everyone else in his orbit. He was the embodiment of sunshine and I don’t think I will ever stop missing him. When I count my blessings, having him in my life for so many years is high on that list.
From: Lori Cook
Relation: Niece
All our Love to Family❤️
Nice picture of Uncle Kenny, he was an Awesome Uncle & Great Uncle.
I have lots of Wonderful memories growing up in the Joyce Family & All Our Special gatherings.😊 I’m glad myself & my family were able to spend quality times, throughout the years! He will be Lovingly Remembered ❤️
From: Linda Langton
Relation: Fried and brother from another mother
Ken was my brother from another mother. He was born 10 days before me and across the lane from each other. There is bond the two families share as close families do with so very many fun memories and shared experiences. You can’t separate the Joyces from the Langtons when thinking of our lives. I felt especially lucky because as a young teenage girl, Kenny was as close to a rock star as you could get. He was gorgeous, athletic, kind, gentle, funny and he lived next door! It doesn’t get any better. I don’t even know if Ken knew of me other than being Bob’s little sister but he in his unselfish way took me to our high school graduation because some how he knew it was all I ever wanted. I felt a quiet presence around him that you get when you have trust and respect for someone. I only have good memories of Ken but I do have one regret and that is never having skated with him on the couple skate at Trout Lake ice rink. He probably never knew this because we were both so shy and hardly spoke to one another let alone hold each others hands. Back then the neighbourhood guys would usually go iceskating on Friday nights and I was allowed more like tolerated by Bob to follow them there. The only time I was allowed to skate with any of them was at the end of the whip and they loved to let go to see if I could stay up….which to their disappointment I did. I was terrified but grateful to just be with them all. Ken had a great laugh and a wonderful smile and such a unselfish generous spirit. He made you feel cared for and loved without saying anything, just a look, like a sibling would because they know your story. My words don’t do justice to the love and loss of this wonderful man. Susan, Sean, Kristina, your partners and children, I am so very sorry for your huge loss. He was one of the best and will be forever missed. xo
From: Sandy Wagstaff - Blankenship
Relation: Niece
Uncle Kenny has always had a special place in my heart, and even though I haven’t lived in Vancouver over the past 25 years, I will still miss him dearly. I have special memories of when all my cousins were kids, uncle Kenny & uncle Kevin would horse around & kid with us, and we loved it! Kenny & Kevin were like big brothers to us. All the family dinners, christmas & birthday
celebrations, picnics at Whatcom lake…all so much fun…I grew up feeling I had the best family ever! I remember Pam & I were young teens, and we took the greyhound bus to Kamloops to visit Kenny & Susan ( was pregnant with Sean), they took us to dinner; it was a fun time! I enjoyed reading all the other tributes to Kenny, and hearing about all his accomplishments, his love & kindness to others & the full life he lived. Its hard to let go of people we love, but I have to believe he is in good hands. My condolences to Auntie Susan, Sean & Kristina, xoxo love always ♥️
Service Schedule
Private service arrangements have been made.
Memorial Gifts
Memorial donations will be gratefully accepted to: In lieu of flowers or if you wish to honor Ken, please donate to either Diabetes, Kidney or Cancer societies.
Thank You Notice
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