WEIR BÉDARD, Joy
July 2, 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joy Bédard (née Weir), a few weeks short of her 88^th birthday. She is predeceased by her husband, Édouard Bédard, who passed away three months ago, after being her doting caregiver for the last several years.

She will be deeply missed by her cousins, John Weir (Dorothy Collins), Susan Berlingeri (Don), André Weir (Marielle), the Thibodeau cousins and other Weir family members, her beloved sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and other Bédard family members, as well as cherished friends and neighbours who were like family.

Joy was an only-child, born in Timmins, Ontario, where she lived for almost five decades. She was very musical and as a teenager obtained a diploma in piano from the University of Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music. She also had a sharp mind and was well educated, having obtained both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education from the University of Toronto.

Joy was a life-long educator, who worked as a schoolteacher, a vice-principal, and a school board curriculum director in Whitby and Timmins, and later, as an adult education teacher in Montreal. After retiring, she worked as a cruise travel agent, but she never stopped teaching, as she worked as a private piano teacher, offering lessons out of her home in Pointe-Claire for many years.

Joy was always a highly involved and committed member of her church and community. It was while working as a volunteer in Timmins that she met her beloved husband-to-be. She started a new chapter in her life at the age of 48 years, marrying Édouard at Niagara Falls in 1983. After living in Ste-Catherines for five years, they moved to Montreal in 1988. They were an inter-faith couple who were members of both the Catholic and United churches. Belonging to two congregations in the same building in Pointe-Claire for 35 years, they were beloved, dedicated members of both communities, where they enjoyed volunteering their time in various church activities and events and developed lifelong friendships.

Joy was always fun-loving, loved to socialize, and was the life of the party. She was also the consummate hostess, loved to host family and friends at their home, and had a knack for making everyone feel welcome. She also enjoyed travelling and toured around the world with Édouard.

Joy will be remembered for her warmth, kindness, and generosity, as well as her sense of humour, quick wit, and infectious laughter. While we will miss her, we are comforted in knowing that she is now at peace and has been welcomed into the loving arms of Édouard, her parents Catherine and John (Jack) Weir, and many other loved ones.

The celebration of Joy’s life will take place on Saturday, July 22nd at Lakeshore Trinity United in Pointe-Claire. Visitation will begin at 10:00am, followed by a service at 11:30am, and a luncheon reception afterward in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joy’s memory to the Alzheimer and Dementia Society of Canada would be greatly appreciated.

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