Obituary of Joy Chabot
Mom is free from confining walls and a wheelchair to enjoy the big blue sky, white fluffy clouds, sunshine and her God in Heaven. Her favourite song in high school and early 20s was “Don’t Fence Me In” by Gene Autry (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxaaN06Cd-E ) and that sums up where she wants to be.
She died March 25, 2019 in her 97th year after moving to Henley House November 2014. She resided on Centennial where her caregivers were truly her angels. Their kindness, compassion and love for her will never be forgotten.
Joy was born and raised in St. Catharines (Flora Joyce Murphy, May 14, 1922) with a father (Frank J Murphy) who adored her, a loving mother Myrtle (Summers), and 2 “big” brothers, Glenn and Rodger (who called her sister Susie). Joy was a bit of a tomboy growing up. She enjoyed her summers at Jordan Harbour/Lake Ontario with the fruit trees, her favourite Willow tree that supported her platform, a canoe and their Dippy.
She enjoyed her school years at Lyman St and St. Catharines Collegiate. Joy had many friends growing up, where they had fun at the beach, dancing at the pavilions, Lakeside Park, winter fun and playing mixed badminton. Joy was a hardy passenger on the Northumberland as they sailed across Lake Ontario where she attended University of Toronto and proudly graduated in 1945 with a degree in Food Science. She drove many a male friend to Union Station as they left for the war. She was writing her final exams when the war ended, the streets were alive with people celebrating, those in the exam hall were told to be quiet or they would lose their papers.
Marriage to Claude Chabot in Aug 1945 (deceased Jan 1998) was her next chapter and raising 5 girls (Michele, Jeannine, Anne, Renee and Claudette). Joy lived in Montreal with her first child Michie, moved back to St. Catharines and then spent 12 wonderful years on Pine St in Welland. With her young family she was involved in a neighbour/family-oriented street life. She busied herself at St. Kevin’s Church and with neighbourhood bridge games. A few years in Willowdale then the family moved back to St. Catharines. Joy continued to enjoy their many friends, their social life, The Cathedral, trips to the Market, many bridge games, golf games that were not taken too seriously and time on the water. Joy loved to travel. Reading maps and getting lost on road trips was just as much fun. Once widowed she enjoyed her time traveling and having New Year’s Eve sleepovers with her “Golden Girls” and lots of bridge.
She enjoyed many of the Great Lakes, but her deep love was for Victoria Island near Parry Sound in Georgian Bay. Joy’s children, grand children (11) and great children (17) still enjoy the experience. Her memory lives on with them.
Mom enjoyed time with her girls and their children: family Christmases that often took place in November, family traditions such as their Christmas pageants, being a spectator to a serious game of mini sticks with big and little “kids”, trillium walks, Canada Day celebrations at the cottage, making sand cakes on the beach, swimming, driving the boat, boat rides and adventures, hearing the loons, setting off solo on sunrise boat treks to the back bay to find the heron and at times running ashore on the sandy bottom.
We wish to thank the caring and loving staff on Centennial at Henley House, for their love, care, and compassion to Joy and to her family.
We also wish to thank our very special Nicole, whose wheelchair accessible van (Right At Home) allowed Joy a seat up front, a great view, trips along the river, to the lake, sitting by the water, checking out old haunts and enjoying treats together. Nicole is a special friend.
Over the last 4 years, Mom loved her time in her “private garden”, the pathway around Henley House and the willow tree, she enjoyed cruising the parking lot and identifying makes of cars and she loved being a balcony dweller all year round.
Joy loves spring, to be surprised by flowers that just pop up. Her favourites being the croci, forsythia, magnolias and soon lilacs. She is free now to enjoy her favourite bird the Chickadee,
In lieu of flowers take some time for yourself in the great outdoors or buy some flowers for yourself.
If you wish, in Joy’s memory, donations can be made to the Henley House Family Council Accessible Sink project for the hair salon (cheques to be made out to Henley House Resident Council, Memo: sink project) or Voice for deaf or hard of hearing children https://www.voicefordeafkids.com/
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks”
