Born to Ethel Olson Dowswell and Blake Dowswell, Joyce was raised in Mirror and Hanna, Alberta. 

Joyce was married 76 years to her teenage sweetheart, Cec, who survives her.  She is also survived by her children, Linda, Terri, Barry and Lori, 6 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Shirley Johnson.  Joyce danced, sang, partied, camped, travelled, swam, played bridge, baked and laughed through life.

As an adult determined to overcome a lifelong fear of water, she signed up to learn to swim and didn't stop until she had achieved the RLSS Distinction award.  She ran swim programs at Fairmont Hot Springs and MacGregor Lake and taught at the Calgary Winter Club for several years.

Joyce and Cec built a cabin on the Columbia River at Fairmont Hot Springs - doing most of the work themselves.  It was very much their happy place where they had many friends and adventures.  Joyce and Cec greatly enjoyed their years at the Calgary Winter Club and participated in almost every activity available with great enthusiasm.  Joyce was a dedicated member of St. David’s United Church and they were charter members from its inception.

In her last years Joyce was challenged by dementia but happily never lost track of who her husband and children were and generously expressed her love and affection.  And she knew when something was funny and laughed until her last waking day.  She spent her final week surrounded by her whole family, in person or via video calls and made it understood she appreciated the gathering of her brood.  She left us peacefully and in comfort, surrounded by music and lovely lighting, in her own room.  As a dear cousin noted she left an essence of "energy, spirit and joie de vivre".