In memory of
Joyce "Rose" Connell
November 25, 1933 - June 14, 2025
Joyce Connell was born on November 25, 1933, in Sheffield, Westmoreland, Jamaica, of parents Amy Whyte and Ernest Connell. Driven by compassion and purpose, she pursued her calling in nursing and was accepted by the General Nursing Council of England and Wales as a Registered Nurse in 1958 and a Registered Midwife by the Royal College of Midwives in 1959. She later returned to the Caribbean to serve at the University College Hospital of the West Indies.
In 1969, Joyce migrated to Canada and obtained the accreditation as a Registered Nurse by the College of Nurses of Ontario in 1970, where she continued her nursing vocation, bringing comfort and healing to countless lives in Psychiatric Nursing. In 1985, Joyce received formal commendation from Women’s College Hospital for her heroic actions during a medical crisis. Her gentle spirit, warm heart, and unwavering sense of duty made her a cherished figure among colleagues and patients alike.
Raised in the Methodist tradition, Joyce deepened her faith after relocating to Canada, becoming a devoted Anglican. Joyce found great joy in her faith. Her love for the Christian religion, particularly the season of Easter, was reflected in the handmade banners and emblems of the crucifixion she lovingly created and shared with her church community. Her creativity and devotion were inseparable from her spiritual walk.
Known for her vibrant personality but very calm demeanor, Joyce was a true social butterfly. She never met a stranger—only friends she hadn’t yet spoken to. Her passion for travel spoke to her thirst for understanding the world and her deep love of people.
Though she never married or had children of her own, Joyce was a mother in every sense of the word. Her nurturing presence, guidance, and boundless affection touched the lives of so many.
After a courageous seven-year battle with cancer, Joyce passed away peacefully on June 14, 2025. She leaves behind her beloved niece Pauline Grant (Florida), her brother Dave Connell (Oakville), her cherished grandnieces and grandnephews, other siblings, great grandnieces and great grandnephews, and an extended family of dear friends and loved ones.
Joyce’s faith sustained her, and we take comfort in believing her soul now rests in peace, embraced in paradise—resting gently in Abraham’s Bosom.
In 1969, Joyce migrated to Canada and obtained the accreditation as a Registered Nurse by the College of Nurses of Ontario in 1970, where she continued her nursing vocation, bringing comfort and healing to countless lives in Psychiatric Nursing. In 1985, Joyce received formal commendation from Women’s College Hospital for her heroic actions during a medical crisis. Her gentle spirit, warm heart, and unwavering sense of duty made her a cherished figure among colleagues and patients alike.
Raised in the Methodist tradition, Joyce deepened her faith after relocating to Canada, becoming a devoted Anglican. Joyce found great joy in her faith. Her love for the Christian religion, particularly the season of Easter, was reflected in the handmade banners and emblems of the crucifixion she lovingly created and shared with her church community. Her creativity and devotion were inseparable from her spiritual walk.
Known for her vibrant personality but very calm demeanor, Joyce was a true social butterfly. She never met a stranger—only friends she hadn’t yet spoken to. Her passion for travel spoke to her thirst for understanding the world and her deep love of people.
Though she never married or had children of her own, Joyce was a mother in every sense of the word. Her nurturing presence, guidance, and boundless affection touched the lives of so many.
After a courageous seven-year battle with cancer, Joyce passed away peacefully on June 14, 2025. She leaves behind her beloved niece Pauline Grant (Florida), her brother Dave Connell (Oakville), her cherished grandnieces and grandnephews, other siblings, great grandnieces and great grandnephews, and an extended family of dear friends and loved ones.
Joyce’s faith sustained her, and we take comfort in believing her soul now rests in peace, embraced in paradise—resting gently in Abraham’s Bosom.
Funeral Details
Show location:
Celebration of the Life of Joyce (Rose) Connell
Saint Simon's Anglican Church
1450 Litchfield Rd., Oakville, ON, CANADA, L6H 5P4
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Saturday, 12 Jul 2025 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Info: In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Canadian Cancer Society or the Ian Anderson House (Hospice Care) or a donation in memory of Joyce Connell may be made by e-transfer to stbarnabasanglican.treasurer@gmail.com or sent by mail to: St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Chester, 361 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1P1