Joyce Mary (Kozinski) Stanga

March 1, 1931 - May 23, 2026

Joyce Mary Stanga passed away suddenly but peacefully on May 23, 2026, surrounded by her children at Markham Stouffville Hospital. Born on March 1, 1931 in Quebec City, she lived a full, meaningful life devoted to her family, service, and community. A loving mother and grandmother, a dedicated teacher and friend, she was known for her warmth, wisdom and kindness.

Joyce was predeceased by the love of her life, John (January 19, 1991). She was also predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Rose (Komar) Kozinski, and her brother, Walter.

She is lovingly remembered by her children: Mary-Rose (Randy) and step granddaughters Diana and Arielle; David; Joanne; and Stephen (Rozanne) and grandchildren Rachel and Tyler. As the matriarch of the Stanga family “Polish Reunion”, she will be missed by her nieces, nephews and their growing families. She truly treasured every family celebration and never missed out.

Joyce grew up with her brother in South Porcupine (Timmins) with many extended family members close by. She always said you couldn’t go anywhere without meeting someone from the north. She was an avid athlete playing basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and track. In the community she was a figure skater in Schumacher and also instructed in South Porcupine. She always said her claim to fame was practicing figures next to Barbara Ann Scott during the summer of ‘47, the year before she became Olympic Champion. Her love of sports carried through her entire lifetime, from passing on good genes to her children, to watching them play hockey, lacrosse and figure skate. She was a somewhat frustrated but diehard Leaf fan from childhood and her love of the Blue Jays ran deep, starting with games at Exhibition Stadium, to the World Series Championship Game on October 23, 1993 at Skydome, right up to an annual game each year at Rogers Centre.

As a young girl, so many of her dreams were shaped by the movies she watched and she always imagined herself as a secretary-the kind she saw on screen-so polished and efficient, moving effortlessly through different worlds and occupations. That image stayed with her, and she eventually convinced her parents to let her enroll at Shaw’s Business College in Toronto in an executive secretary course. She ventured out into the work world as a 20 year old without knowing exactly the type of work she wanted until she walked into Ronald’s Advertising Agency. She learned the ropes during her 3 years in advertising before marrying John and settling in Galt in 1955, where the four children were born. A short stay in Huntsville followed where John started his teaching career. In 1967 when the need for teachers was at its height, she and John attended the “cattle call” at the Park Plaza in Toronto looking for a position for John. They met with the Orillia principals and not only found a geography position for John at Park Street Collegiate, but also an opening for a commercial teacher at ODCVI. They signed up as a package deal and moved to Orillia in 1967. Joyce spent many summers bussing to Toronto to attend summer school during the week and finished her BA in 1972, and then her Masters in Education in 1977. She taught at OD for 19 years, first in the Business department and later as a Guidance Counsellor and said she enjoyed every day of her career.

In each community - Galt, Huntsville and Orillia - there was always somewhere to get involved. Girl Guides, figure skating clubs, Canus Games, shopping for seniors and the Catholic Women’s League. This was her real passion. She loved what it stood for, personally, within the church, and in the country, and she got involved locally, at the Toronto Archdiocesan Council, and also the national conventions. She also enjoyed being part of the parish activities at Guardian Angels, from Parish Council to the bazaar, to Eucharistic minister, to chairing the 100th anniversary celebration of Guardian Angels Church. Perhaps the thing that was most constant in her life, other than the love of family, was her faith. It guided her through the most amazing times, as well as the most difficult.

Together, she and John received a Government of Canada Certificate of Merit for contribution to the community in 1987.

In retirement, the couple took up bridge together. After John’s sudden passing, she carried on, turning her love of the game into a new form of teaching. She founded a “learn to play bridge” group in the church basement, sharing both her knowledge and her joy for the game. She directed at the Orillia Bridge Club, travelled the world on bridge tours, hosted lively New Year’s Eve bridge parties, and passed her passion along to her daughters and many friends. The Sunday bridge lunches were filled with great food and laughter.

Joyce learned about the world through books as a lifelong reader and it sparked her adventurous spirit that took her far and wide. Motorhome trips with John and sister-in-law Josie throughout Canada and the US were often recounted. She considered herself very fortunate in 1986 to take her father back to his home in Poland after 50 years. Among her other travel highlights were a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the pyramids in Egypt, a safari in Kenya, and a trip to Guatemala with teachers from Park Street.

After 48 years in Orillia, she left for Newmarket and then Aurora to be closer to her children. She continued to stay connected through birthday lunches at Theos and summer bbqs. She cherished those afternoons with friends and long-time acquaintances. In 2024 she moved to Markham to live with her daughter Joanne and continued her passions with the CWL and bridge, playing until the very end with her regular partners John, Janet, Anne, Mary-Rose, Joanne, and Diana.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation at the Mundell Funeral Home, 79 West St., N., Orillia on Sunday May 31st, 2026 from 1 PM - 4 PM. Parish Prayers will be held in the Parlour on Sunday afternoon at 4 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of the Guardian Angels, 115 West St. N., Orillia, on Monday June 1, 2026 at 10 AM. Reception to follow. Interment: St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, 7975 Hwy 12, Orillia.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul, Heart and Stroke Foundation, or the Canadian Cancer Society.