MACDONALD, MARY JOYCE (NEE MCCOOL) December 9, 1933-May 10, 2009. Died peacefully, at the Ottawa Heart Institute, surrounded by her immediate family. Joyce had suffered a severe stroke this past February, and had been admitted to the Ottawa Heart Institute to address issues arising from a heart attack subsequent to the stroke. Surgical intervention had been performed and Joyce was recovering from this intervention when non-related complications arose which, unfortunately, proved to be terminal in the end. Joyce is survived by her sister, Phyllis (Heaven) son, Rory, daughter, Leslie (MacDonald-Hicks), son-in-law, Bentley (Hicks), and grand-daughter Kelsey (Hicks); also survived by chosen grandsons Andrew (Esther) and Matthew (Tina) Hicks, and great-grandson Liam and great-granddaughters Naomi and Grace. Her brothers Howard and Brian (McCool), sisters Muriel (Moore), Elaine (Bayley), and Noreen (Fisher) predecease her. Joyce was born in Montreal to parents Edward and Kathleen McCool, where she grew up, took her schooling, and held her first jobs. After her mother, Kathleen, died in 1955. Joyce moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to live with her sister Muriel and brother-in-law, Gordon. She subsequently married an Air Force Serviceman (Charles MacDonald) and spent time overseas in England and France, and later in Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Joyce was a resident of Fredericton, New Brunswick, from 1975 to 1991, and then moved to Ottawa where she lived until her passing. While in Fredericton, Joyce spent her time as a caregiver to the Stevenson family and was an active member of Holy Family Parish Church. After she moved to Ottawa, Joyce became an active member of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, where she undertook ministry to the shut-in and was also a lay administrator. Joyce was also heavily involved as an active member of the Sandy Hill Housing Co-op in Ottawa, where she lived and worked as Maintenance Committee member. Joyce had many friends at the Housing Co-op and in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood generally. She had kind heart, a quick wit, and knew how to laugh at herself and share good times with others. She was always ready to lend a hand to help a neighbour or someone in need. Throughout her years in Ottawa, her granddaughter, and other children, had come to know her affectionately as Taita. Her kindness and caring touched countless lives and she is deeply missed by many. Flowers are gratefully declined; memorial gifts to the Ottawa Heart Institute and/or to St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Ottawa are most gratefully accepted. Funeral services will be held out of St. Joseph's Church at 2pm, Friday, May 15th, 2009. Informal reception to follow the service at the parish hall.