Joyce B. Jurkow (nee Gmiterek)

CHANGE OF DATE

A funeral will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 4588 Roblin Blvd., 

Winnipeg on Friday, April 25, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Joyce Bernice Jurkow at the Grace Hospital on March 15, 2025 at age 83. Joyce was foremost a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend and teacher.

Joyce was born to Mary and Mike Gmiterek in Riverton, Manitoba in 1942. She had three younger sisters, Joan Schofield, Bernice Colmer (both of Winnipeg) and Linda Hildebrandt (Beausejour), with whom she remained close to all her life. Joyce attended teacher’s college and made many life-long friends there including her best friend, Dorothy Gair. Joyce loved teaching kids to read.

Joyce met Norman Jurkow at a Sadie Hawkins dance in 1963 and married him in Winnipeg in 1966. They had two children, Michael Jurkow (Lisa Strong) and Gillian Taverna (Justin), and two grandchildren, Gabriel and Nina Cowie. Norman and Joyce lived in the same house in Charleswood on Betsworth Avenue for over 50 years. She loved her yard and garden and watching the children go to and from school, especially in her retirement. Joyce loved to entertain and hosted many parties and Christmas celebrations with family and friends. Special times and memories include summers at Gull Lake when the kids were young with the extended family-days at the beach, picking blueberries, making perogies and playing competitive card games in the verandah. Joyce looked forward to watching Jets and Bombers games alike.

Joyce was diagnosed with MS in her 50s. She spent many years in a wheelchair and was no longer able to do many of the things she enjoyed. This was indeed a burden and brought suffering to her life but she rarely complained. She was stronger and more resilient than many people. Joyce was attended to by her loving husband, who cared for her in their home for many years. Recently, Joyce and Norman moved to the Boulton Residence where Joyce was enjoying making new friends and hosting old friends.

The family is grateful to Nory, her homecare worker for helping to restore Joyce’s health over the past few months, and especially to Joyce’s sisters and sister-in-law Sylvia Cassie (Norm) for their never-ending love, compassion and duty to their sister.

A funeral will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 4588 Roblin Blvd., Winnipeg on Friday, April 25, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.

Flowers are appreciated but a donation to the MS Society or K9 Advocacy may be made in lieu.

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com