Her parents, Clarence and Eliza Rex (Arundale), immigrated to Cranbrook from Yorkshire in 1927, and Joyce was very proud of her English heritage her whole life. Her father worked his whole life on farms, and her mother had been a nurse in the British Army in World War I. Joyce did well in school, and graduated near the top of her class in 1948. She worked at Falkin’s Insurance agency after graduation. She married the love of her life, Robert James (Bob) Cleland in 1950. Bob had recently arrived from McTaggart, Saskatchewan.

Like her mother, Joyce was a devout Anglican, particularly later in life after she had raised her family. She also worked for Westmount Credit Services for nearly 25 years.

She was pre-deceased by her father in 1983 (aged 92), her mother in 1991 (aged 99), her husband in 2000 (aged 69), and her sister Margaret Frisina (Mike) in 2001 (aged 73).

Nothing was more important to Joyce than her family. She was a loving, devoted mother, a dedicated grandmother and great grandmother (always available to babysit), and a strong matriarch in her later years.

Joyce is survived by her son Bill Cleland (Judy), her daughter Sharon Roberts (Jim), her son David Cleland (Lori), her son Jason Cleland (Courtenay Marshall) and her niece Lynne Frisina (Barney Barnhardt). She is survived by 13 grandchildren ranging in age from 49 to 22 years, including: Kent Soucy, Cliff Soucy (Amy), Lauren Christiansen (Martin), Lindsay Vermette (Jacob Czernicki), Brad Fletcher-Cleland, Wacey Cleland (Megan Bozak), Dusty Cleland, Libby Stevely-Cleland (Roman Maskulka), Justin Cleland, Malik Dhami, Grace Vandermolen (Zach), Rachel Parnell (Jude), and Dryden Dhami. Joyce is also survived by 15 great grandchildren ranging in age from 25 years to 6 months, including: Santana Prestia, Halle Soucy, Isaac Vermette, Preston Czernicki, William Soucy, Milo Vermette, Connor Czernicki, Jacob Soucy, Claire Christiansen, Carmen Christiansen, Heidi Margison, Hudson Margison, Emily Fletcher, Mikhola Maskulka, and Moses Parnell.

A traditional Funeral Service will be held on Friday January 30th at Christ Church Anglican in Cranbrook at 1:00pm. The Reverend Kevin Arndt will officiate. Flowers for the funeral will be provided by the family.

Those wishing to remember Joyce Cleland may do so by making a donation to a charity of their choice.

Her memory will live forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

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