On Friday January 9, 2015 our amazing Mother, Viola "Joy" Sheppard, passed away peacefully, in her home surrounded by her devoted children. Joy was predeceased by her beloved husband William Sheppard (1909-1989), son William, parents John and Mary Keeping, sister Lillian Elms (Thomas) and brother William (Mabel). She leaves behind a large family, including her six children: Joan Sharpe (Thomas), Myra Sheppard (Brian Pevlin), Glenys Saunders (David), Jackie Sheppard (the late Randell Pardy), Pauline Sheppard (Brian Wolfe) and Carl Sheppard (Judy Craig). Also left behind are her many grandchildren: Thomas, Amy, Jane, Beth, Heather, Jennifer, Geoff, William, David, Aaron, Christian and Sarah; great grandchildren: Thomas, Andrew, Luke, Jessica, David, Sedona, Teirnan and Ryan; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Joy was born in Grand Bank in 1925. Upon graduating from high school she left Grand Bank to attend Memorial College in St. John's after which she taught at Holloway, Bond Street and Grand Beach Schools. She met her future husband and they married in 1946, commencing their journey; raising children and working tirelessly, side by side, in the family grocery business. Joy and her husband retired in 1976 and spent thirteen years enjoying their blossoming family. They were greatly satisfied by the accomplishments of their children whom they heavily nurtured and they thoroughly enjoyed the emerging generation of grandchildren. She and her husband had many happy memories of sitting together in their beautiful garden watching over grandchildren who swam in their pool and ate until they were full. After her husband's death in 1989, she found new strength and wings. She traveled extensively across Canada visiting her children, developed many new friendships and passionately travelled much of the world. Joy frequently spoke about her youth in Grand Bank, waiting for her father to return from the Grand Banks, Portugal or Spain. Joy and her mother together and alone much of the time were voracious readers. She turned out her reading lamp each night only after hearing the fishermen walk pass her house churning the gravel or humming as they set off at dawn to their fishing boats. The family grocery store was an important community centre where politics, social issues, hockey scores and the frequent checker games were all at the heart of conversation. Joy firmly ruled, took on the political cause of the day, organized the letter campaigns, canvassed and rallied voters. Joy and her husband had a love of learning which they had as a common priority for their children. Sunday mornings were often spent with their children in bed playing friendly spelling and arithmetic bees. She was always there for evening lessons, turned out her children proudly and crisply every morning for school and amazed her children with her inexhaustible energy. In her later years her children had the privilege of spending quality time with their Mother. She amazed them even more as they began to appreciate the depths of her knowledge, of history, geography, and poetry and her wry wit. In her later years Joy was undoubtedly on the move to see the world, retracing her Father's steps and experiencing sights and cultures. She frequently recalled her journeys through Southern England, around Cape Horn, through the Alaskan fiords and to Barcelona, Australia, the South Pacific Islands and the Panama Canal where her father was once shipped wrecked. These travels were often enjoyed with her daughters, her dear friend Dora Yetman and her late sister in law, Mabel Keeping. Joy was a caring person not afraid to speak her mind. She had a great sense of humour, fierce determination and was compassionate to all. She was a very spirited and competitive woman. She was a long-time member of St. James United Church and Ladies Fellowship group. Despite a steady decline in health in recent years Joy had a full and active life. Her smile and the look in her eyes on her daily drives to view out over the city, gaze upon the surrounding hills and admire the ocean will always be remembered by her children. Joy inspired her children, set their standards, fiercely loved and amused them. Her children will forever love her, respect her and miss her dearly. She was amazing! The Sheppard family would like to thank her caregivers, particularly Irene Letaban who provided loving and compassionate care over the past five years. They would also like to thank her companions Trudy Mitchell and Carol Ann Crewe and Dr. Stephen Lee whose advice, care and house calls were always greatly appreciated. Friends may call at Barrett's Funeral Home, 328 Hamilton Avenue from 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 Tuesday, January 13th. Funeral service will be from St. James United Church, Elizabeth Avenue Wednesday, January 14th, 2015 at 11:00am. Interment to follow at The General Protestant Cemetery, Waterford Bridge Road. Anyone wishing to make a donation in her memory is invited to consider the Canadian Cancer Society or Alzheimer's Society. Please visit www.barretts.ca to sign the memorial guest book.