Obituary of Joy Angela Merrells

Joy passed away peacefully on Friday, August 28, 2020 with both of her daughters at her bedside. She was predeceased by her parents Herman and Ivol Krueger; parents in law Nettie and Charles Merrells; husband Kenneth Merrells; son-in-law Sheldon Angelstad; brothers in law Dale Pettit and Donald Fahlman. Joy is survived by her daughters Diane Hind (Allan) and Brenda Angelstad; granddaughters Heather Hluchaniuk, Allana Luzny (Paul), Joleen Hind, Kara Tomyn (Darek); great granddaughters Angela Drotar (Steve), Samantha Hluchaniuk; great grandson Rhys Hluchaniuk; great-great grandsons Nicolas and Riley Drotar; sisters Ione Pettit, Jean Fahlman, and Myrna Kaiser (Peter) as well as many nieces and nephews.

Joy was born in Innes, SK and lived on the farm at Griffin until she graduated from high school in 1946. She commenced nurses training at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Regina in 1947 but left a short time later to work as a Psychiatric Aide at the Saskatchewan Hospital in Weyburn.

On July 14, 1948, Joy married Kenneth Merrells. They then had their first daughter in 1949 and their second in 1951. They lived in various small towns (Lake Alma, Kincaid and Pense) before settling down in Regina. She worked for the provincial government at the Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Commission from 1966-1987. In 1978, she proudly obtained her Certificate of Administration from the University of Regina at the age of 51. Following her retirement, Joy worked part-time at Morton’s and Harold’s Ladies Wear until 1995.

Caring, compassionate, fun-loving, witty and funny are but a few words that described Joy to those that knew her. Her two daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren were a priority to her, and she showered them with love, gifts, and excursions to lakes and parks. In her early years Joy enjoyed curling and spent hours sewing beautiful dresses for her two daughters as they were growing up. She also loved gardening (flowers and shrubs only as she disliked vegetables) and playing Whist, both of which she did right up until this year. After retiring, she discovered a hidden talent for painting with watercolors and created wonderful florals and landscapes.

Joy was a woman of great intelligence, strength, wisdom, and perseverance and, as such, was an inspirational role model to her daughters and grandchildren.  She will always be in our hearts and minds – never to be forgotten.

As per Joy’s wishes no service will be held.  A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

 

After Glow

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one

I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.

I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly

down the ways of happy times and laughing times, and bright sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before

the sun of happy memories that I leave when life is done