Obituary of Joyce Gladys Kaare
Our mother Joyce Gladys Kaare passed peacefully on January 30, 2023 at the age of 89. Mom was born Joyce Gladys Densmore in Red Deer, Alberta in July of, 1933. Inquisitive and tenacious from day one, she spent her early years exploring the banks of the Waskasoo creek near her childhood home in Parkvale, Red Deer.
Joyce was one of Elizabeth and Roland Densmore’s six children – Olive, Phyllis, Harry, Katie and Millie. Before her mother passed when Joyce was young, she instilled the core values of education, music and religion into her children. Naturally gifted in music and dance, she learned to play the piano by ear and practiced highland, clogging and tap dance throughout her childhood.
At age eighteen, she set off for Edmonton where she trained to be a teacher at the University of Alberta. Her first job of her thirty-three year teaching career was at a one-room schoolhouse in Clarendon, just outside of Innisfail, Alberta. It was there that she met the love of her life, John Hansen Kaare and they married on July 4, 1956 in Red Deer.
Joyce taught for the Red Deer school district in many different capacities. She helped to establish the first of its kind resource program for children with learning disabilities, taught grade six at Mount View School, and ended her career as Vice Principal of Joseph Welsh Elementary where she retired in 1991. She later became a member of Delta Kappa Gamma International’s Zeta Chapter, serving as the provincial president from 1995–1997.
Mom was always up to something and had many hobbies. Writing, crafting, travelling, reading, playing bridge, golfing, painting and entertaining were just a few of her many interests. Her and dad took multiple trips back to Denmark and spent their retirement travelling the world from Alaska to Israel. She was very involved in the community and was a lifelong member of West Park Presbyterian Church. A philanthropist at heart, she spent much of her life giving back to others whenever she could. She loved to spend time at their cabin in Sylvan Lake, planned epic Easter egg hunts for her grandkids, and perfected her signature strawberry rhubarb jam, crisps, and pies. She was an incredible hostess and was always bringing family and friends together.
Joyce is survived by her husband of 67 years, John Kaare; her children Layna (Kelvin) and Lisa, her four grandchildren; Katie, Kaare (Kelsey), Emily and Kyler, her sisters Katie and Millie (Irving), sister-in-law Lynn, along with numerous other family members, friends, neighbours, students and admirers. She is predeceased by her baby sister Elsie, brother Harry, sisters Phyllis (Alfio) and Olive (Art), her brother-in-law Eric, son-in-law Scott and her and John’s baby boy Kurt. It brings us great comfort in knowing she has been reunited with her loved ones on the other side.
We will miss her big bright smile, always positive attitude, warm hugs, sweet loving nature, and sense of humour that she maintained right to very end of her fight with Alzheimer’s.
The family would also like to extend their gratitude to all the staff at The Hamlets for all the care and compassion they showed Joyce during her time there.
In lieu of flowers we ask that you consider making a donation to one of the following:
• The Alzheimer’s Society Alberta and Northwest Territories
• The Heart and Stroke Foundation
• The Breast Cancer Supportive Care Foundation
A Memorial Service to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held at the West Park St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, located at 3628 – 57 Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Condolences to Joyce’s family may be emailed to meaningful@telus.net. Please indicate “Kaare” in the subject line.
Arrangements in care of
Meaningful Memorials Funeral Service
A locally owned cremation and funeral provider
serving Red Deer and all of Central Alberta
587-876-4944