February 3, 1926 – February 9, 2020
After a brief illness, our matriarch has passed away. Joyce was born on February 3, 1926 in Milwaukee, WI. In 1947 she married Simeon (Sonny) Pilipishen, and together with their three youngest children, immigrated to Canada in 1965. Their destination was Red Lake but their vehicle broke down in Vermilion Bay and when they found out that the Shell station was for sale, they decided to buy it and remain in Vermilion Bay.
Joyce was predeceased by Sonny in 1968, by her second husband, Paul Poirier, in 1982, and most recently, her best friend Anna Bergagnini. She is survived by her children Bonnie (Jim) Fowler, West Bend, WI, Joy (Robbie) Robinson, Vermilion Bay, Jim (Lynda) Pilipishen (presently in Florida), Mike (Marcia) Pilipishen, Vermilion Bay, and Tom Pilipishen, Vermilion Bay. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren, and eleven (and a half!) great-great-grandchildren, as well as her brother-in-law, Dick Pilipishen, Milwaukee, WI, her sister-in-law Catherine Petrouske, Tomahawk, WI, numerous nieces and nephews, and her very good friend Mary Loewen.
After Sonny’s death, Joyce continued to help run the gas station, and worked at several other jobs, eventually retiring from the Liquor Store. She was active on many committees in Vermilion Bay, the Volunteer Fire Department, and took several courses, such as ceramics, woodworking and stained glass. She was also an avid quilter. She was instrumental in the founding of the Happy-Go-Lucky Seniors club, and in having their Centre built. She was a very active member of the club, holding several different offices over the years, and always ready to help with anything that was going on there.
Joyce was always the type of person to put forth her opinion and to speak her mind. She said that at her age, she had earned the right to do so! At our most recent family gathering, only two weeks ago, she insisted that it wasn’t a birthday party for her because she was only going to have a birthday every five years and this was just her 94th! Sadly, we will have to celebrate her 95th without her.
A Funeral Mass to Celebrate Joyce’s life will be held in Our Lady of Fatima Church in Vermilion Bay on Friday February 28th at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Alan Campeau officiating. A gathering at the Happy-Go-Lucky Senior Centre will follow.
If friends desire donations may be made to the MS Society or to Our Lady of Fatima Church through the Stevens Funeral Homes P.O. Box 412, Dryden ON P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be posted at www.stevensfuneralhomes.ca.
