Joyce Shirley Albers (nee Feland)
Joyce Shirley Albers (nee Feland), 82, of Edmonton, Alberta passed away on March 28th, 2020. She was born on August 5th, 1937 in Bonnyville, Alberta. Joyce was one of 16 children raised in the small community of Glendon AB.
Growing up with a strong work ethic and no stranger to grief, Joyce experienced this first hand when her husband Henny was tragically killed in a car accident. Now a young widow with 2 small children, James and Nancy, she worked hard to provide for her children. Joyce eventually met her husband Benny Albers and they were married in Edmonton in 1969. Together they had two daughters, Jennifer and Nadine. The family of 6 grew up in Edmonton, while also enjoying a small acreage near Smoky Lake that gave Joyce many years of enjoyment vegetable gardening, picking wild strawberries, blueberries and eating fresh fish from Mons Lake. Many cherished memories were made at “the cabin” enjoying the bounty of their garden and the company of friends and family.
Joyce was a lover of music, not only in the listening and making of it, but also in imparting a love of music to her children and grandchildren. She was a person of strong moral character, and expected the same from her children. Joyce was a survivor, and a fighter, facing numerous hardships in life, and overcoming every single one with grace. After the children had left the house she and Benny enjoyed cruising, working in the garden, spending time at the antique malls, playing cards with their friends and especially their grandkids, as well as traveling across Canada and the United States to spend time with their children and grandchildren.
The efforts and love of Joyce are reflected in the size of her greatest legacy, her family. Joyce was a tireless, hardworking mother to her children, and grandchildren. Among her four children came a total of 11 grandchildren, as well as two great grandchildren and another due any day.
Joyce is survived by her husband of 50 years, Benny Albers, her four children, James, Nancy, Jennifer (Patrick), Nadine (Chris), and her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Joshua (Connie), Aaron (Kaz), Matthew, Nathan (Madi), Reid, Claudia, Duncan, Peter, Graham, Riley, Declan, Blake, and Hudson.
Joyce was deeply loved and will forever be missed by not just her family, but the friends she made over her lifetime.
Her family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the UofA nursing staff on unit 5C4 for their exceptional care and compassion during her final days battling Myelodysplastic Syndrome.
At Joyce’s request there will be no funeral. Her ashes will be spread by her family at a later date.
Memorial Donations
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to either;
Canadian Blood Services at www.blood.ca
Canadian Cancer Society at www.cancer.ca
Such a beautiful legacy for such a beautiful soul. RIP Joyce xo
Our heartfelt condolences to you my lovely friend Nancy And to everyone in the family! We pray Lord to give you strength to go through this painful phase! May her soul Rest in peace!!
First met Joyce as she busied herself in our kitchen to ensure Nadina and Chrisès wedding went without a hitch and everyone had something to eat–I think the ceremony had to be delayed until she had everything just so. Time now for her to take a rest —will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
My heart goes out to your family. I have so many wonderful memories as a child spent with all of you. I will always remember “Mrs. Albers” with fondness, a smile, and music in my heart.
My heartfelt condolence to the Albers family. She will be greatly missed by all her family, especially her grandchildren.
My condolences to you and yours nancy
Dear Benny and all the Family: I am very sad to read this read this sad news and would like to express my deepest condolences to all of you. Joyce was a lovely lady and will be missed by all. Take care and stay safe at this time.
Love & hugs at a distance,
Clarice
Big hugs to all members of the Albers family right now! Joyce was such a big hearted, passionate, spirited and hard working soul. I have so many warm memories of her from the time I first met her about 50 years ago. She and Benny were and are the closest of friends with my parents and our families shared so much: annual dinners following Brown and Root Children’s Christmas parties complete with Joyce’s delicious schnitzel and chocolate peach cake; summer camping trips which became weekend trips to the cabin, along with communal breakfasts, garden feasts, campfires and card games. A cleaner extraordinaire, Joyce brought order to the chaos of Jeremy’s house in old Strathcona. She could have given Mari Kondo a run for her money! Joyce was a doer! And she expressed her love for her family and friends by doing things for them and being there for them when it counted. For all those Joyce leaves behind, celebrate her memory and remember how much you were loved by her in all she did for you.
Love,
Roxanne
Dear Benny and family
My prayers and sincere condolences to all of your family. Please find comfort and peace in your loving memories of Joyce.
I will always cherish our friendship, our years at Mons Lake picking berries, playing baseball or just sitting around the campfire sharing stories and lots of laughs.
Rest in peace Joyce knowing the love you shared will never fade.
Benny & Family, our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. A lovely & courageous lady. She will be missed. Art & Gladys mathison
I have so many happy memories of times that was spent with my dear friend Joyce and her family over the years. Joyce had the biggest heart of anyone I ever knew. and she was generous to a fault. I will miss her dearly.
As you know, Benny, Nancy Jennifer, Nadine and all of the family Joyce loved you all so much and in her own way she stood up for and protected you as a mother bear does her cubs.
I love you
Aunty Lorraine
Dear Benny and family
So many happy thoughts and remembrances over the years with Joyce
and her family. Her biggest fear was we would leave her table
Hungary. Joyce loved her garden, the cabin at Mons Lake and picking berries. If she gave you a container of wild strawberries
she picked, you knew she loved you. Will miss an afternoon of canasta.
Life will not be the same without her, but we have to remember she
is in a much better space. It is time to celebrate the memory of
Joyce by remembering her strong love for each and everyone of you.
Love and Hugs
Doris
Our heartfelt condolences to Ben and your family. We would like to pay special tribute to an amazing woman. She was genuine, practical and a good friend with a kind heart. Joyce came to our rescue many, many years ago when our kids were small and we were in desperate need of a babysitter. Not only did she step up to the task and take our kids under her wing, she included us as well. We believe she loved our kids as if they were her own grandkids (always had pictures of our kids alongside her grandkids on her fridge). Even after our kids grew up and left home Joyce always wanted to know how our kids were. We will remember her for her sincere motherly advice and her eagerness to share her life experiences. She was an exceptional gardener and a great cook/baker. I will forever cherish her hand written recipes. We hold a debt of gratitude, admiration and a tremendous amount of love for Joyce. We will miss her.
Thank you so much Susan. Your family was very special and we always touched base about what the kids were doing and what the two of you were doing. She did love it when you dropped in to visit. Thank you for your kindness and friendship through the years.