BIRKETT, CLARICE JOYCE
December 1st, 1929 – January 7th, 2018

Joyce was born to Clarice (Drake) and Richard Brand on December 1st, 1929 in Moose Jaw, SK and was the eldest of four children.  Her home life was interesting/challenging as the family separated when she was sixteen.  Her mother, sister Delores, and bothers Dennis and Vaughn moved to Alberta, while Joyce remained in Moose Jaw and lived with her father.  She met a handsome young man, Kenneth George Birkett, with beautiful blue eyes when she was eighteen years of age.  They married on April 29th, 1949 and their first home was at the Ross Alder apartments.  Kenneth worked for CPR and moonlighted as the caretaker for the apartment block.  Joyce worked at the Exchange Cafe and Sally’s dress shop.  They started their family and needed to move to a larger home, where they lived their entire married life on Monk Avenue.  During this period, Joyce worked for Simpson Sears, which later was known just as Sears.  She worked at Sears for 38 years and retired in 1988.  Joyce was a young widow at the age of 53 when Ken passed away.  In mom’s retirement years, as she never learned to drive, she used this as a way to spend important quality time with her children and grandchildren.  To say she enjoyed her yard is an understatement, except when there was every condition other than sun (GD rain, GD wind, GD snow….).  Mom enjoyed and looked forward to people stopping in to say hi.  She was predeceased by her husband, Ken; and middle son, Richard; her mother and father; sister, Delores (Ron) Murrell; and brother, Dennis (Helen) Brand.  Joyce leaves behind her brother, Vaughn (Ellen) Brand; children: Garry (Crystal) Birkett, Karen (Rick) Jukes, Donna (Barry) Watson, and Jeffrey (Charmaine) Birkett; daughter-in-law, Marion Birkett; nine grandchildren: Sheena (Ryan) Onrait, Cody Birkett, Chance Jukes, Eden Jukes, Drew (Amanda) Birkett, Allison (Brett) Birkett, Whitney (Josh) Striha, Derrick (Colby) Watson, Aimee (Chris) Adrian, and Dusty Ring; thirteen great-grandchildren and two we are waiting to meet; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  In keeping with Joyce’s wishes, a Private Family Service will be held.  The family would like to thank St. Joseph’s Hospital/Foyer D’Youville staff, management and physicians for mom’s excellent care.  Flowers are gratefully declined.  As an expression of sympathy, donations in Joyce’s memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice.  Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane.  Todd Sjoberg, Funeral Director 306-693-4550