31 July 2010
KATHLEEN JOYCE BODIAM (née NEWMAN) On July 24, 2010, Kathleen Joyce Bodiam, 68, passed away peacefully in the Palliative Care Unit of Etobicoke General Hospital after a brief yet courageous battle with brain cancer. Joyce was born in Toronto on April 10, 1942 and spent her entire life in the city. Joyce is survived by her son James and daughter Patricia. Joyce was predeceased by her father George Newman, British Army Veteran of WWI, her mother Kathleen Gladys Newman (née Farrington) and her brother Ernest George Newman. Joyce's career began in 1959, spending 4 years at the US Consulate in downtown Toronto. Joyce then spent 40 years with Garrett Canada where she also served in many positions on the Garrett Employees' Club, including two terms as President. Most recently, Joyce spent 4 years as part of the team at the Weston Licence Office. In 1993, Joyce graduated from Atkinson College, York University, with a Management Development Certificate, and served as a member of their Aerospace Advisory Committee reviewing continuing education. Joyce knew that the important part of work life was to look after the people, combine humour and hard work, and the company will do fine on its own. Over the course of Joyce's career she received awards and accolades too numerous to mention, but, her most treasured award and her greatest joy came from organizing and producing the annual Garrett Children's Christmas Party for 18 years. Joyce was truly in her element putting together the celebration every year, planning, buying, wrapping, and then the big day came. Nothing gave Joyce greater happiness than seeing the children with Santa, or opening their presents and shrieking with delight. After Joyce retired, there was a hole where the children's party used to be and then she found CTV and The Salvation Army's annual Toy Mountain campaign. Joyce was back in her element, finding a place where she could quietly and behind the scenes get involved to put smiles on children's faces at Christmas. Joyce tracked down a few of her former contacts and gave them a gentle nudge to get involved. Now it was our turn to go out and buy toys for Toy Mountain, slip in unnoticed to drop them off, wait for the campaign to hit their goal and enjoy watching the Toy Mountain team celebrate. In Joyce's final weeks, once she was sure that her own children were looked after, her next concern was that we keep the drive alive to make Toy Mountain a success every year. Thank you to Tom, Rochelle and Sylvia who helped with the details to make sure that Joyce's wish that every child will have a Christmas will live on. As well, according to Joyce's instructions, all of her clothing, shoes, and other items were donated to a battered women's shelter so that the residents would have a chance at restarting their lives with her clothes as part of their new career wardrobe. We wish to extend our love and appreciation to Dr. Vincent Maida and the Palliative Care Unit nursing team at Etobicoke General Hospital for the loving care and compassion that they showed to Joyce throughout her final days. They are truly incredible and gracious people. As well, our thanks to Greg and Margie Young and the Patel family for their assistance in caring for Joyce. Everyone who knew Joyce, or whose life was touched in some way by her are welcome to join us for a celebration of Joyce's life at St. Paul The Apostle Anglican Church, 2182 Kipling Avenue, Toronto, on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 10:00 a.m., with a reception to follow the service. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you honour Joyce's final wish and donate to The Salvation Army's Toy Mountain campaign. Please mark your cheques or online donations with 'Toy Mountain - Joyce'. Don't grieve for me, from pain I'm free I'm following the path God has laid, you see. I took his hand when I heard his call I turned around and left it all. I could not stay another day To laugh, to love, to work or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way I found the peace on a sunny day. If my parting has left a void Then fill it with remembered joys. A family shared, a laugh, a kiss Oh yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life's been full, I've savoured much, Good family, good times, a loved one's touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief Don't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your hearts, and peace to thee. God wanted me now; From pain I'm free. - Anonymous
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