JOYCE, KAREN ANN - 49 passed away in Cobequid Health Centre on March 9, 2006. Karen was born in Saint John, N.B., and her adoptive parents were Walter and Mary Elizabeth (Dever) Joyce. She was educated in the local schools and moved to Bedford with her mother Mary in 1965 after her father's passing. Karen finished her schooling in the local schools in Halifax and Bedford, and then attended Miss Murphy's Business College. She was active in her younger years in equestrian events and her horses were her love in life. She rode Prince and Shannon at the country fairs throughout the province, and was well known at the many agricultural meets; she won various ribbons and prizes for her jumping skills. She rode with the Bengal Lancers in the early days of her riding. She was an active skier, skater, and enjoyed the company of her many friends. She was employed with Otis Elevator in Burnside, Dartmouth, for a brief time before going to visit her brother in Saint John, N.B. A tragic accident at age 19 brought Karen back to Nova Scotia, where she resided for many years and the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre in Cole Harbour, until she was placed in a small options home in 1996, where she remained until the time of her death. Karen's life in Bedford was filled with many special events in which Karen participated with her roommates in her Bedford home. She was active in the community and could be seen walking through the town of Bedford with her friends from her home. Karen will be sadly missed by her sister, Ann (James) McBride, Bedford; her brother, James Dever, Saint John, N.B.; and her nieces, Rosemary McBride and Wendy McBride, Bedford; Kelly (Darren) Landry, Lower Sackville; her nephew, Patrick (Heidi) McBride, Hantsport; her roommates, June and Becky, and staff at her Bedford home. No visitation by family request. Funeral will be held on Monday, March 13, at 10 a.m. in St. Ignatius Church in Bedford. Mass will be celebrated by Father Joseph McKinnon. Reception to follow in the church hall. Burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association in memory of Karen. Arrangements are entrusted to T.K. Barnard Funeral Home, Bedford. An Angel is in Heaven