April 19, 1926 – May 31, 2022
Filled with love, gratitude and a nurturing and keenly sharp mind to the end, Muriel Joyce Tupper passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 31st at the age of 96, with family by her side.
Joyce is forever loved and remembered by her children Marilyn (Jim), Susan (Keith), Maureen, Mark (Heidi), Scott (Kathy) & Brent (Joanne), and a brood of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom she adored right back.
Born in Port Alice, BC on April 19th, 1926, to Muriel Isabel Cameron Hitch-Clarke and William Isaac, the early years for Joyce and her younger sister Colleen, were happily spent between Vancouver and Powell River. It wasn’t until the age of 16 that Joyce realized the family dynamic wasn’t quite as she thought, and that the girls had been shielded from their parents’ separation.
Living and working in Powell River, her father had often joined them at the boarding house the two girls shared with their mother in the West End, and the three of them in turn went to Powell River to spend each summer with him. Experiencing only kindness and respect between her parents, it hadn’t occurred to her that this arrangement might be anything other than a father living away for steady work to support his family. When asked late in life whom she most admired she wrote, “My Mother. She managed to keep us housed, clothed and fed on so little, and we never knew! We were a happy family – always! My father was also a good and kind man, and a hard worker.” This was Joyce exactly; truly appreciating the sunny side of things, and always most grateful for the people in her life. It was also descriptive of the wonderful man she married.
Which brings us to that happy, fateful New Year’s Eve in the 1940’s when Muriel Joyce Isaac met Kenneth Lester Tupper at a friend’s home in Kitsilano. When you know you just know, as they say, and four months later began a marriage that would span 6 children, 14 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, countless lifelong friendships, and over six decades. Those six children were the winners of one of life’s lotteries.
Ken and Joyce’s first 20 years together were spent living in military housing on air bases throughout Canada. During their time in Cold Lake, Alberta, May would herald the first of many day trips to nearby Marie Lake with a van full of singing children – a pot of homemade chili or corned beef sandwiches and freshly baked dessert in tow – to stand in the last of winter’s melting snow and welcome the summer picnic season. And oh, those desserts. While the overcooked canned vegetables served at supper may not always have been met with delight, there was no lack of enthusiasm for her baked treats. Dinner wasn’t quite dinner without one of Mom’s desserts: brownies, butter tarts, “woofie” pies, cakes, cookies and loaves – all comforting, beloved and delicious.
In 1966 Ken retired from the RCAF, moving from Comox to Maple Ridge where they lived the rest of their lives. And like they had everywhere else they lived, significant lifelong friendships were formed. Joyce found endless happiness in everyday casual social interactions, her weekly ladies coffee group, and every one of the hundreds of her family’s events that she attended. Nothing gave her greater joy.
So thankful was Joyce for a life brimming with family and friends that there wasn’t a moment wasted on envy. She lived by the Golden Rule, and was genuinely interested in the goings on in everyone’s lives, never forgetting a detail, by your side to celebrate your successes, and to ease you through the losses. Having a friend, a mother, a grandparent, so genuinely pleased for and proud of you, and so free from criticism and judgement, was itself a treasure indeed.
Joyce’s family is so grateful for the gentle care she received over the past two months at Chartwell, and for the fondness that grew between her and the staff during her short time there.
This was very typical for Joyce. To know her was to love her.
This Sunday, June 12th we welcome all those who knew her to come together to ReJoyce.
ReJoyce because we had such a kind and good person in our lives and we are all better for it.
Please join us at Mark & Heidi Tupper’s home at 21981-127 Avenue between 2pm-4pm to honour the life of our mother and friend.


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