September 20, 1961 - May 30, 2021
Joy Angela Becker (Dickson) passed away at the age of 59 on May 30, 2021.
We are sad to announce that our joyous angel Joy has left us to join her Saviour and all her fellow angels and saints in eternity. Joy had a unique spirit. She lit up a room and connected with each person in it.
The combination of her beautiful smile, radiance, and Dickson wit were never far from her...even in her battle with cancer. She was guided by the Holy Spirit to always help anyone in need: children, youth and adults.
Joy was preceded in death by her father, Gary, and by her mother, Marge, to whom she was a loving caregiver in her final years. Joy is lovingly survived and remembered by her family: husband Rick; sons Jace and Jordan; brother Gary (Lisa); sisters Tracey (Robert) and Rita (Matt); and many in- laws, aunts and uncles, nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, grand-nieces, a God daughter and countless friends.
Joy was born on September 20, 1961, in Nottingham, England, the second child of Garnet (Gary) and Marge Dickson. After living with relatives in Jamaica for 3 years, Joy and her siblings Tracey and Gary joined their parents in British Columbia, Canada, in 1967.
The young family was following Gary Sr. as he embarked on a career in the United Church ministry, first in Port Kells (Surrey), where the last of Joy's siblings, Rita was born, studies in Vancouver, a ministry in Kitimat, and then in Clearwater where the family established themselves for several years.
Family activities centered around the United Church; and Joy with sister Tracey could be heard singing at various events. During her secondary school years, Joy was active in sports and even won runner-up in a local beauty pageant. Joy graduated from high school in 1978. Many lifelong friendships were made during those years in Clearwater.
After high school, Joy attended UBC's School of Nursing and graduated with her BSc in Nursing in 1982. Shortly after, she became a Public Health Nurse for the East Kootenay Health Unit in Elkford, BC, where she met Rick Becker - musician, music teacher and future husband.
Joy and Rick moved to Calgary, Alberta, and then to Edmonton where Joy served as a Public Health Nurse. In 1988, Joy and Rick were married and in 1990 they were blessed with their first son, Jace.
In 1992, with Joy carrying their second child, Rick accepted a teaching position in Mission, BC, where Joy's parents had moved with her youngest sibling, Rita. The first month of school for Rick brought Joy's delivery of their second son, Jordan.
During this busy child-rearing period, Joy's entrepreneurial spirit emerged and she was able to establish a thriving business with Mary Kay Cosmetics.
In 1995, the Becker household moved to Nanaimo. Joy maintained her Mary Kay business and began operating a home-based daycare. In 1999, Joy resumed her career as a Public Health Nurse with the Options for Sexual Health (OPT) organization. By 2000, she was Director of Educational Services for OPT in BC.
After a first cancer diagnosis (2010), the effects of treatment prevented a successful return to previous employment. Joy created her own business in 2012, training parents/ caregivers and service providers to teach relationships education to adolescents with neuro-developmental challenges and diverse learning needs. She honed her craft as a Social Skills Educator and Facilitator, becoming known for her personable and hands-on approach.
Through her Oceanside Church community, Joy took on roles with youth education, street ministries, and work with Grace Orphanage where she helped to establish a home for children orphaned during the Republic of Congo Civil War.
Her calling also took her on church mission trips to Ensenada, Mexico, as medical and spiritual advisor.
Outside of her family, Joy enjoyed life in her community by teaching aerobics classes, camping, fly fishing, dragon boat racing, singing in bands and choirs, supporting great blues music, acting in musicals and plays, serving on school committees, as well as creating knitted and felted art. Joy served her community and blessed others with her light, making lifelong friends wherever her travels took her. They will miss her dearly.
The family would like to thank the following medical team: BC Cancer Agency and Dr. Bernstein, Dr. Findlay, Dr. Gillis, Dr. Love, Dr. Otte, and the NRGH Palliative Care Staff.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joy's name to:
Grace Orphanage https://www.iwof.ca/donate/ (for more information, the email address is info@iwof.ca )
Selby Street Mission selbystreetmission382@gmail.com for e-transfers