Joyce Burkitt Fetterley

Mrs. Joyce Burkitt Fetterley was born November 30, 1933 in Camborne, Cornwall, England, to Sidney Roberts Thomas of Camborne and Lillie May Burkitt of Kaslo, British Columbia. She was born days after her parents arrived in England on a ship from Canada.

The family moved to Africa where her father was a mining engineer. They went on vacation back to England in the summer of 1939, just before the outbreak of World War 2, and couldn’t get a ship back to Africa until the war ended. Joyce finished her schooling in Africa and worked in Luanshya, Zambia for several years. After her parents passed, she moved to British Columbia to live with her Aunt Helen.

On October 26, 1957 she married Royal Landels Fetterley of Nelson, BC. The couple were blessed with two sons and two daughters. Joyce worked as a legal secretary for years in Salmon Arm. She had many friends in the community and was loved by all. She enjoyed many years volunteering for the Shuswap Lake Health Care Auxiliary and spent much of her time tending to her beloved garden.

As a teenager, she backpacked through Europe with a friend, and she never lost the travel bug, taking frequent trips abroad. Joyce’s passion for playing the piano came from her father, who was an accomplished pianist. She also loved to play African drums with her friends and played percussion in the community band. She chronicled her early life in her memoir, “One Cornishman’s Children.”

Joyce passed quietly on November 22nd in Shuswap Lake General Hospital. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Alan Vivian Thomas, and her husband of 64 years, Royal.

Her kindness, wisdom and strength will be forever cherished by her children: Geoff Fetterley of Salmon Arm BC, Janet Norman of Edmonton AB, Russell Fetterley of Wainwright AB, and Margaret Oxley of Salmon Arm BC; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; several cousins; and a host of devoted nieces, nephews and friends.

Special thanks to Drs. Sawatzky-Martens, Hedges, Main and Osmond, and the nurses at Shuswap Lake General Hospital, for their kindness and loving care.

Joyce's service was held on Saturday June 17, 2023 at Bowers Funeral Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Shuswap Lake Health Care Auxiliary (Box 1896 Salmon Arm BC V1E 4P9), or SAFE Society (PO Box 1463 Salmon Arm BC V1E 4P6).