Joyce Irene Hanson (née Thiessen), 74, of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, passed away peacefully in the arms of her daughters (clad in full PPE) on August 25, 2021, after a short but challenging hospitalization with COVID-19. Born in Moose Jaw, SK to Eunice & William Thiessen on August 3, 1947, Joyce was a little blonde sweetheart who idolized her older brother Bill (Dorothy) Thiessen who she swore took her almost everywhere he went. The only person she reminisced more fondly about over the years was her beloved Dad, who she lost too soon in 1973. Joyce was married at 21 to Kenneth Hicks, a young Air Force man from Saskatoon, SK. They had two daughters together, Tamara (David) Kerr and Heather (Jon) Kurz who they moved around Air bases in Canada until their divorce in 1979. Joyce went on to marry Moose Jaw’s Andrew Hanson who had five children of his own (Wanda, Andy, Wendy, Cindy & Steven). Joyce and Andrew loved to go out dancing on weekends as their kids took turns babysitting one another. Her other hobbies included adopting neighbourhood cats without their owner’s consent. Joyce was a loving mother figure and caregiver to anyone who needed one, and she is fondly remembered by her kids and their friends for her quick laugh (especially at herself), and her abundant tolerance for an awful lot of their nonsense. She was the biggest cheerleader and so embarrassingly proud of her family. Her friends at Capilano Court Retirement Villa described her as a social butterfly and a ray of sunshine. She will be dearly missed by us all. Except for her parents, Joyce leaves behind everyone mentioned here as well as her niece Jennifer Thiessen (Michael) Kramer, and grandkids Sloane & Harlow Kerr and Smith & Lexi Kurz. A small graveside gathering for family will be held at Moose Jaw’s Rosedale Cemetery on Sunday, September 12 at 1:00 p.m. A very special thank you to the caring staff of the Dr. F. H. Wigmore Hospital ICU. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Joyce’s honour to the CIBC Run for the Cure: https://support.cancer.ca/site/TR/RunfortheCure/RFTC_NW_even_?team_id=480764&pg=team&fr_id=27935 In living memory of Joyce, a memorial planting will be made by Jones-Parkview Funeral Services. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.jonesparkview.com (Obituaries). Chrystine Dacey- Funeral Director Intern
