MacCoubrey Funeral Home
30 King St. E., Cobourg
MacCoubrey Funeral Home
30 King St. E., Cobourg
This obituary is protected by copyright by MacCoubrey Funeral Home Limited. Proudly serving Northumberland County in the province of Ontario, Canada. All rights reserved.
Joyce has passed away peacefully at Northumberland Hills Hospital after a short illness, in her 100th year.
Born in Toronto, Joyce was the eldest daughter of Major John E. Finlay (MC) and Lillian Maude Finlay (Jackson). Joyce spent her childhood in Tory Hill, with her sister Joan, and formed a life long attachment to Haliburton.
During the Depression, her family relocated to Toronto. After high school, Joyce attended the University of Toronto, graduating in 1948 with a Fine Arts Degree, Art and Architecture. Following her graduation, Joyce worked in the University’s Rare Book Library.
During her early college years, Joyce served with the Farmerettes, an organization of young women who worked on area farms while the men were overseas fighting the war. Joyce is featured in a new documentary called We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of the Farmerettes, where she speaks of her service to her country.
In 1950, she married Jack Jones, a Civil Engineer and started her family. Following Jack’s career in harbour planning, she relocated to small towns on the Great Lakes - Sarnia, Niagara Falls, Cornwall and her favourite, Little Current.
In 1956, after Jack became Chief Engineer for Toronto Harbour, the young family settled in Cooksville where she raised her three children. At this time, Joyce became involved with the University Women’s Group, and the local Rug Hooking Guild of Mississauga.
In 1983, following retirement, Jack and Joyce purchased their beloved farm north of Cobourg and set about enjoying the 1845 stone house and scenic Northumberland Hills.
Avid sailors and boat owners, Joyce would join Jack on many sailing adventures. Joyce’s great passion, however, was driving and she discovered every back road that could be explored.
Widowed in 2004, Joyce continued to live at Willow Ridge Farm, on her own, for the rest of her life. She maintained an active and engaging lifestyle, continuing with her crafts and building her extensive collection of rare and unusual books.
Her hand hooked rugs are legendary, winning awards and renown, many are of her own classic designs. Her contributions to the craft were inspirational and she was a valued and gifted member of the Rug Hookers of Northumberland Guild.
Joyce was an avid researcher of history and enjoyed her involvement with the Antiquers Group of Cobourg, always with an intriguing awareness of historical events. She was a volunteer in period dress at Lang Pioneer Village, encompassing all her talents and interests, and a member of the Cobourg Library and The Art Gallery of Northumberland.
As the keeper of family history, she was proud of her Scottish and Loyalist ancestors who carved out life in early Canada. Her home is filled with cherished family heirlooms and fascinating stories. Her quiet passions were many and her agile, intriguing and curious mind was enjoyed by all who knew her.
Joyce is survived by her daughter Nancy (Brian), sons Doug (Avril) and Peter (Donna). Her grandsons Alistair (Suzanne) and Andrew (Keisha) have given her five great grandchildren - Esben, Maisy-Bea, Breeze, Enid and Rhys. Her elegance and devotion will be lovingly missed by her family.
She will be fondly remembered by many cherished friends and neighbours.
Joyce was a remarkable woman, with a witty sense of humour, a wise, clever and generous spirit, an astonishing memory and a heartfelt love of country life. She remains a treasure to us all.
Visitation will be held from 1-2 pm. on Sunday August 17th at the MacCoubrey Funeral Home, 30 King St., E., Cobourg, followed by a funeral service at 2 pm. Interment will be held at Baltimore East Cemetery the following week Saturday August 23rd, which would have been her 100th birthday, all are invited to attend.
Doug and Avril, I am so sorry to hear about Joyce’s passing. She certainly lived a long and beautiful life with many interests, friends and hobbies. I remember having dinner at her farm with the family and her home was full of lovely heirlooms, artwork and interesting books. May the memories of Joyce comfort you during this difficult time.
What a precious life Joyce led. She really knew how to live life to her full potential. What else can we ask for? My deepest condolences to you Doug and Avril, Nancy and Peter.
Joyce will be greatly missed, she and Jack were extended family for me, always generous and welcoming, there was always an open door at their wonderful country home and place at their table. Joyce was a very talented rug hooker, had a sharp memory and had a joy for driving country roads to see where they led just for the adventure. I will miss Joyce very much, she was an inspiration to living long and living well. My sincere condolences to Nancy, Doug and Peter. Rest In peace Joyce.
My deepest sympathy for losing such an amazing mother, grandmother. I met Joyce at rug hooking , I was new to the craft and Joyce was a valued member of the group who so freely gave advice, if asked. She was so low key that it took a few years for me to learn of and appreciate her knowledge, her artistry and talent. She was so generous, enthusiastic and so encouraging to the new rug hookers. Her generosity in opening her home so we could meet and we could view her beautiful rugs was so appreciated. She will be sorely missed as she was at the core of the group. Rest in peace, dear Joyce.
Joyce will be missed . She was an integral part of our rug hooking group. Always willing to help, wonderful stories, just a great person. to know. Condolences to her family and friends.
I have known Joyce for 59 years of my 73 turns around the sun. Joyce is the mother of my lifelong friend Nancy so I saw her often and at various stages of her life. I knew her as a remarkable Mother, a steady and loving companion to Jack and as the years went by a caring friend to me. I was always in awe of her philosophical smarts, valid opinions, superb memory of all things, and the courage to drive down any road that took her fancy. Hers was a life well lived and I will miss her
My deepest condolences to Joyce’s family and friends. She will be dearly missed. I have so many words for Joyce — generous, kind, vivacious, inquisitive, creative and much much more. Joyce inhaled all life had to offer and with such generosity shared so much. She is at the centre of so many of my most favourite memories. As the days move on I will think of Joyce, beyond horizon’s edge, winging her way to wondrous adventures of exploration with her beloved Jack.
My deepest condolences to Nancy, Doug, Peter and her many other relatives and friends. A lovely, gracious and impressively witty and intelligent woman has left us - Joyce will be missed by us all.
I will miss my friend Joyce. I spent time rug hooking with her at the church and looked forward to our trips to her home and sit and chat. Hugs to her family!
I became an admirer of Joyce at our first meeting, a Jaunters gathering at her farm house for CFUW...I was impressed by her wonderful rug hooking, her hosting abilities, and her wonderful spirit and active mind. As time went on, she never ceased to impress me with her willingness to help, her positive outlook, and her involvement in so many things. She was truly an amazing person...I am not sure I will be able to make the visitation and funeral as I have a previous commitment but I will be thinking of her that day...my sincere condolences to her family
Doug and Abril, Frank and I would like to express our condolences to you and your family. We were happy to know your family from yacht club days. Always enjoyed the company of both your mom and dad. Christine and Frank Russell
Condolences to the family. What a wonderful woman! I first met Joyce at a rug hooking event, many years ago, and felt very welcomed and appreciated in her presence. She had a genuine interest in who you were. She will be missed by many..... Hook on Joyce....
Dear Doug, Avril and the entire Jones family, I met Joyce about fifteen years ago while doing some grass cutting on her beautiful, peaceful property. I was always impressed with Joyce's rug hooking skills. What a talented artist. She was a fascinating woman who was as sharp as a tack and she possessed a fabulous memory of her family's ancestry. It was always a pleasure to chat with her. We have lost a wonderful woman. Lillian Joyce Jones August 23, 1925 - August 1, 2025 "Rest in Peace"
Dear Nancy Please convey my condolences to the family. I am one of the “Antiquers” who shared her passion for the appreciation of personal items of significance as well as the group’s sociability over several years. I also appreciated Joyce’s willingness to drive fellow CFUW women on jaunts out of Cobourg, and her willingness to even drive to Niagara-on-the-Lake for theatre matinees! Thanks to Joyce I was introduced to backroads along the Trent River. To reach the age of 99 and still be vibrant, interested in various topics and humble about her own talents is admirable! God Bless Her, Dorothy De Lisle
Condolences to Joyce's family and dear friends on the loss of this amazingly talented and gracious lady. I will cherish the memories of my conversations with Joyce.
My condolences to Doug and Nancy and family sorry for your loss.
Joyce showed me nothing but kindness in our long friendship. We shared through good, and tough times. She was an example to all of grace and compassion, curiosity and intrigue. Pool time with family and friends was always a happy time of day. Jack and her were like a well oiled machine , I never saw them at odds , just a beautiful mutual respect. Laughter at the ready, I will always remember Joyce fondly.
Over the years I had the good fortune of meeting with Joyce. It was always a pleasure to be with her - she was great company. She will be sadly missed and a great loss to her family.
I will miss our Thursday visit’s.I met Joyce 40 years ago,thru rug hooking. I. Enjoyed our talks about the early days.A wonderful lady. My condolences to the family Dolores Skelly
In Loving Memory of Joyce Jones. I met Joyce at 4th. Line Theatre in July 2024 when she and her daughter Nancy attended the play "Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes. Immediately I felt she should be filmed and interviewed for our documentary "WE LEND A HAND: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes". Mission accomplished. Now her memory will live on each time the documentary is screened. I am proud I was able to meet her and I will smile when I see her on the cinema screens. A life well lived. Rest in peace, Joyce. Thank you for your service. Bonnie Sitter Author and Historical Producer
To Nancy. We are with you in remembering your mother who gave you such friendship and love over all the years of her life. You were a great caregiver in her latter years and we know she was grateful for your company, friendship and love.
I will miss Joyce and her wonderful stories of a life well lived. Joyce spoke about her husband often with such pride and love. RIP Joyce. You will be missed by many. Lois-Anne Johns
I will miss Joyce's presence at rug hooking. She was a great mentor and example to those of us starting the craft. Deepest condolences. Martina
I will miss Joyce's presence at rug hooking. She was a great mentor and example to those of us starting the craft. Deepest condolences. Martina
Very sorry to learn of Joyce’s passing. Met her only once but we have many lovely recollections of Doug and Avril’s stories about this remarkable woman, may she rest in peace.
Sending all my thoughts and love to Joyce's family and friends. She will be greatly missed by so many!❤️
So sorry to hear about Joyce. She was good neighbour.