SAUNDERS, Esther Frances “Joy”

Joy Saunders departed this life from the Veteran’s Unit at Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital, in Lunenburg, at age 105. Mum always said she was in the Departure Lounge, her flight just wouldn’t come in. Even though she was determined to leave from her home, the love and care she received during her week in the Unit, and the visits from friends and neighbours sent her off on a high note.

Esther Frances Armstrong was born at the end of World War I, at West Watch house, in Limpsfield, Surrey, England. Mum was born on October 31, 1918, to Brigadier General Francis Logie Armstrong and Marjorie Hilton Wilkes Armstrong. She was a bundle of “joy” for her family, after such a long war, and the name stuck.

Mum saw many changes in the world during her 105 years; two World Wars, the Great Depression, the Influenza pandemic in her young years, the COVID pandemic in her late years, and extreme changes in technology. She always seemed to be able to adapt, even learning to use email and Facebook at 90 so her grandchildren would write to her!

Mum always said her life had three distinct phases. Being in a military family, her early years were spent travelling, first in England, and then home to Canada, in Montreal, Winnipeg, Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, and back to Montreal. There are two pictures that have hung in our home all our lives. The first of her father greeting King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of their Royal visit to Canada in 1939. Mum and her sister June served them tea. The other, when her father presented her with her commission in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps, in 1943; there was no prouder moment in her life.

Phase 2 began when she married John Alfred Glover Saunders. Her “Jack” swept her off to Cape Breton - her family years. Eight children later, and many dogs and cats, with homes in New Waterford, New Glasgow and Sydney, she grew a wide network of life-long friends. She adored her family. There was always laughter, cookies, and a yard full of our friends, many of whom still refer to her as their other mother. On a Labour Day weekend trip around the Cabot Trail in 1960, Mum and Dad fell in love with an empty farmhouse in Margaree Harbour. Our family celebrated 60 years in “the Harbour” in 2020. Today, seven of her eight children have homes there, overflowing in the summer with extended family, grandchildren, and great grands! And more dogs and cats! Such wonderful memories.

Phase 3 came unexpectedly when our Dad died in 1983, shortly after his retirement. With her children scattered around the world, Mum moved to Lunenburg, where she began her volunteer years. Mum always said, “If you want to make friends, go to church, meet your neighbours walking the dog, and volunteer”. She expanded her network at St. John’s Anglican Church, Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital Auxiliary in the Gift Shoppe, and where she began a Foot Care clinic with the VON which she ran for over 35 years. She loved meeting new people in the Lunenburg Art Gallery or delivering Meals on Wheels. If she wasn’t busy on an afternoon, she had someone for tea!

Mum celebrated her 80th birthday by returning to England, a bucket list visit in case she “left soon”. When she didn’t leave soon, she went for another walk, welcomed new neighbours, precious grandchildren and great grands, and Elder Dogs. At 101, when her golden retriever Prayer died, she picked up her walking sticks and took them for a walk.

Mum was honoured as Lunenburg’s Volunteer of the year in 2020, when she walked a 0.8 km route to raise money and awareness for VON Canada, in recognition of the outstanding contribution of VON caregivers during the COVID pandemic. During her “Walk for Joy” she walked her route 102 times before her 102nd birthday. She was awarded the Lady Aberdeen Award by the VON, was the recipient of the 2020 Canada’s Volunteer Award in the Community Leader category for the Atlantic region and was presented with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers by the Governor General, to honour her selfless desire to support VON and in gratitude for her fundraising efforts that benefit all Nova Scotians.

Mum was a voracious reader and advocate for the public library system. We grew up with bedtime stories and weekly trips to the library. When her eyesight deteriorated, she began audio books. All books teach you something and allow you to escape into other’s lives to understand them better. Mum loved discussing books over tea - also politics, but that’s another story!

Joy was predeceased by her husband, Jack, her daughter-in-law, Laura, her parents, her brother Logie Armstrong, and her sister June Skene.

She will live on in her children, Heather (Jim Eisenhauer), John (Laura, deceased), Barry (Linda), Geoffrey (Jane Milton), Mark (Cathy), David (Teena Marie Fancey), Jim (Glenda Nystuen), and June, as well as all the Ottawa and Charlottetown families. Her 16 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren will hear and tell stories of GG for years to come.

A special thank you is extended to all of Mum’s caring neighbours, Lunenburg Family Health, the amazing staff at Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital and the Veteran’s Unit, Earth Angels, Bridgewater and Always Home, Dartmouth and to Veterans Affairs Canada, for their support over the last few years.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Dana L. Sweeny Funeral Home, 11213 Highway 3, Lunenburg. A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Anglican Church, Lunenburg on June 8, 2024, at 11 a.m. with a reception in the Parish Hall following the service. Interment will be in Margaree Harbour later in the Summer.

Donations in Joy’s memory may be made to: Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, PO Box 143, Lunenburg, NS; St. John’s Anglican Church, www.stjohnslunenburg.org; VON, www.von.ca; ElderDog, www.elderdog.ca .

Mum always felt to keep this great country strong, we should all contribute. Everyone is capable of something. AND if you’re feeling down, go for a walk! www.sweenyfuneralhome.ca