Obituary of Isabel "Joyce" Polvi

POLVI: Isabelle "Joyce" passed away peacefully with her family by her side at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on March 6, 2012 at the age of 71. Joyce was born in Minitonas, Manitoba on the 27th of May, 1940. She was the firstborn to Virgil and Isabel Flanders. She was followed by her brother, Edwin. Virgil moved the family to Brandon when he got work at the Brandon Mental Hospital as a Male Nurse. Joyce was married to Ernie Dooley from 1962 to 1985. They had two children, Kim and Chris. During their marriage, there were lots of family holidays. Every summer they would spend their time at Lot 4 in Curran Park. The family holiday would last two weeks and go in any direction. Ernie and Joyce were on a 5-pin bowling league for many years and they also coached Kim's Softball team for several years. Joyce met Rod Polvi and they were married in 1990 on the back deck at their home. Their life consisted of many dogs. Joyce would fall in love with any puppy and would beg Rod to let her have them. She was maxed out at two at a time. For 35 years, she worked at MTS. Initially she was a telephone operator working shift work, however, in time she moved into a clerical position were she was able to work day shifts only. She was very active in the Telephone Pioneers. Joyce really enjoyed the work and the social aspects that were part of life at MTS. She also welcomed the regular rewards that came with years of service as she acquired quite a set of rings signifying years of service while at MTS. Joyce started working at the neighbourhood 7-11 during the last few years of her working at MTS. Again, she enjoyed the social aspect and quickly became "Grandma" to so many of the neighbourhood kids. She made 7-11 a full time job there for another two – three years. Of course, she was always about the jewellery; she received a watch for her five years of service before retiring. Rod always said that he came in third in her heart – grandkids and her dogs above him. Rod and Joyce supplied unlimited support to her grandchildren. She was known for her version of Poutine which she called Poutinni. She will always be remembered by Shane for her "Fluffy Salad" that she made every Thanksgiving and Christmas. Joyce was famous for her keen, if somewhat barbed, sense of humour. You knew she loved you when she called you by some portion of your anatomy rather than your name. Joyce had many hobbies, which included knitting and crocheting, reading novels and she adapted quickly to the technology of computers. She was on Facebook keeping in constant contact with many family and friends. Her favourite time of the year was when curling started. In fact, prior to her passing away, she insisted on having a TV so she could watch The Brier. Joyce was a caregiver not only to her grandchildren, but also to her parents. When they moved into Fairview, she would visit daily and would always take care of their laundry. Joyce enjoyed her robust health until 2010 when she was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. She had a successful surgery. The follow-up chemotherapy left Joyce with a terrible reaction to the treatment. Thankfully, she recovered and came home. Rod set aside so much in order to take care of Joyce. He was truly her rock. Joyce needed that support as she never completely recovered from the ordeal with the cancer. In mid-February, she was admitted back to the hospital with acute pain and underwent another surgery. This time infection set in. Joyce fought for about three weeks before succumbing on Tuesday the 6th of March. Her son Chris was able to fly in to see her during her stay in ICU. Rod, Kim and her fiancé Shane were at her bedside holding her hands at the end. She was pre-deceased by her brother Edwin Flanders in 1972, father Virgil Flanders in 2001 and mother Isabel followed only six months later. Her puppies Chancy, Brandy and Tyche. She has left behind a loving husband, Rod Polvi, daughter Kim (Shane), son Chris (Heather) and four grandchildren Aaron, Nicole, Madisen and Memphis. Joyce will also be missed by her beloved puppies, Charleigh and Maggie and by her colleagues from MTS as well her extended family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, 150 McTavish Ave. East, Brandon, MB, R7A 2B3. God looked around his garden And found an empty space Then He looked down upon This earth to see your tired face He put his arms around you And lifted you to rest God's garden must be beautiful He only takes the best.