HELEN JOYCE GAWLETZ

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On Sunday, January 8, 2023, Helen Joyce Gawletz (nee Moore), loving wife to Lyle Gawletz, mother to Clark (partner Jodi), Glen (wife Alison) and Lauren, grandmother to Ian, Jasmine, and Trevi, died at the age of 83.
Joyce was born on December 10, 1939 in Rosetown, Saskatchewan to Catharine and Frederick Moore. With her typical wit, Joyce quipped that she wished her mother could have waited another 22 days so she could have been born in the 40s. She was a farm girl at heart, starting high school two or three weeks late in the Fall so she could drive the grain truck during the harvest. Despite that, Joyce was an excellent student, and chose nursing as the profession she wished to pursue. She decided to attend the Registered Nursing Program in Brandon, owing to the fact that she could start her training as a 17 year old, rather than at a school in Saskatoon that required enrollees to be 18 before they started their studies. It turned out to be a fortuitous decision as Joyce met her future husband Lyle Gawletz, also a Rosetown resident, in 1957.
They married on November 5, 1960, and promptly started a family. Joyce put her career on hold to be a full time mom to her three kids. After raising her children, Joyce returned to the nursing profession, taking a refresher course in the late 1970s with a like-minded group of classmates who remained close to her until the end. She worked in various areas of the health care system for over twenty-five years; until her retirement in 1996.
Joyce and Lyle were enthusiastic vacationers. The Gawletz family always took memorable trips throughout Canada and the United States during the summer months, visiting locations from Niagara Falls to Yellowstone. After Lyle retired in 1988 the couple enjoyed their time on Caribbean cruises in the winter months, taking twenty-five cruises over the years. Joyce enjoyed numerous trips with her wide circle of friends to exotic locales such as Moose Jaw.
She also had a gambling streak that she inherited from her dad Fred. One of her favourite pastimes was to play the slots at casinos with her curling and/or nursing buddies. She also enjoyed a glass of wine at happy hour, and was thrilled to be at Rotary Villas with Lyle after they moved there in December 2021. Joyce loved to curl, and was an active player, competing in league play and various annual bonspiels. She was also a committed volunteer, both at her beloved Riverview Curling Club and at many of the numerous provincial, national, and international events that were hosted in Brandon. Joyce was later recognized for her efforts with a Life Membership at Riverview.
Joyce’s main love was time spent with her grandchildren Ian, Jasmine, and Trevi. All three were her pride, joy and inspiration. Joyce loved to hear how grandsons Ian and Trevi were faring in their various sports, and talked daily with granddaughter Jasmine, discussing books and offering wise life lessons.
The Gawletz family would like to thank the amazing staff on A3 Palliative Care at the Assiniboine Centre for their compassion and professionalism while attending to Joyce during her final days. We would also like to thank the staff at Brockie Donovan for the attention to detail they provided in the planning for Joyce’s cremation.
There is no memorial planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joyce’s name to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, 150 McTavish Ave. E., Brandon, MB, R7A 2B3.

Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jan 21, 2023