It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joy Tracey Carmella (nee Defoe) Saunders on Thursday, November 21, 2019.
Joy was born on December 19, 1928 in Castlegar (West Robson), second of four girls born to Kate (nee Brown) and Ross Defoe.
From a very young girl she was not afraid of hard work - starting with pitching chocolate bars, chewing gum, fruit and cigarettes to cars lined up waiting for the ferry, to a 17-year career at the Castlegar Drug Store until she retired in 1979.
Joy met the love of her life, William (Brick) Saunders, at the age of 15, later marrying him in April 1952.
Camping and fishing with her two sons occupied her summers catching and freezing fish. As the family grew, so did her accommodations from a tent to a trailer to a motor home where she loved to winter in Yuma.
Joy was very proud of the roles she fulfilled with the Pythian Sisters of Kootenay, her swimming and bridge club and watching her grandchildren swimming in the backyard pool or watching them play hockey and ball.
Joy is survived by her husband, William "Brick" Saunders, her youngest sister Wendy (David) Reid (Kaslo), sons Alfred (Evelyn) Saunders (Calgary), and Ross (Nedda) Saunders (Castlegar), grandchildren Kendall and Candice Saunders, Dustin (Tatjana) Kinakin (Ecuador), Gessy and Kaitlun Saunders and step grandchildren William, Wayne, Brian & Lorilei (Calgary), and four great grandchildren, plus many nieces and nephews.
The family would to thank the staff of Talarico Place for their loving care and treatment by Dr. Ankenbauer.
Should you wish to read the full obituary written by Joy, please refer to the Castlegar Funeral Chapel and their website at www.castlegarfuneral.com.
The family will hold a Celebration of her life in the spring. If so desired, donations can be made in her memory to the charity of the donor's choice.
Castlegar Funeral Chapel