Joyce Marie Rutherford

With heavy hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of Joyce Marie Rutherford at the age of 91 on June 15, 2025 at Spencer House in Orillia.

Loving mother to Karen (Greg), Linda, Carolynne (Norm), and Michael (Julie). Dear grandmother to Rex, Shane, Laura (Darren), Becky, Kaitlin (Simon) and Blake (Esmée). Sweet GG to Brooklyn, Connor, Neve, Britton, Braydon, and Levi. Cherished sister to Carol Ann and loved Auntie Joyce to Rodney, Amy and Ryan and their children. She will be fondly remembered by all her cousins who she loved and spent time with over the years.

We are blessed with so many precious memories of her life, her love, and the many ways she helped each of us learn and grow and make a positive impact in our own lives. Love shared, is multiplied, and it radiated from her, especially in her later years when she would light up with joy toward family, visitors and strangers.

A precious, loving mother, grandma, GG, sister, auntie, daughter, granddaughter, cousin and friend, we are warmed by the many memories of what made her special …

Joyce loved her family and it showed, she loved playing like a child with her grandchildren, taking trains, planes, and automobiles to get to events and cheer them on in sports and life, taking trips and adventures with them and always spending as much time as she could with them, giving them so many wonderful memories as they grew up. She loved seeing her great grandchildren and watching them grow and play, she lit up in their presence and would be so proud of each one of them. Joyce loved butterscotch sundaes, reading stories, telling stories, blaming the refs, water colour painting, cheering on the Blue Jays, Raptors and Maple Leafs, knitting beautiful sweaters, visiting art galleries, collecting art, finding meaning in the clouds, playing the lottery, helping others, shooting hoops, playing scrabble, listening to Neil Diamond, Gordon Lightfoot, and all kinds of music, dancing along, betting on the horses, rediscovering Scotland, visiting her childhood farm, spreading joy, listening to the birds, trying new things, volunteering and so much more.

She was a strong woman who rose to the challenges she faced as a single mom with four kids. We knew we could count on her to always do her best, and we have each learned from her to face life’s challenges with resilience and strength.

Joyce was known for the kindness and love she shared with others. A registered nurse with a goal of making a difference for others in need, in her final years she was fortunate to receive so much kindness, love and compassion back from the amazing team at Spencer House. As her dementia progressed, for more than ten years the Spencer House team offered all that she needed to continue to feel and to spread love, joy and happiness.

She is forever in our hearts, always watching over us and showing us messages in the clouds.

Heaven gained an Angel. Fly high, mom.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, August 15 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm, and resume from 7:00pm-9:00pm at the Mundell Funeral Home, 79 West Street North, Orillia. A second visitation will be held on Saturday, August 16 from 12:30pm until the time of service in the Chapel at 1:30pm. Joyce will rest with her parents Irwin and Agnes at St. Andrew's - St. James' Cemetery, Orillia. All are invited for a reception following the service in the upstairs lounge of the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Simcoe County or to Alzheimer’s Canada research funding. They make an important difference in supporting people and families affected by dementia. Messages of condolence are welcome at www.mundellfuneralhome.com.