Obituary of Margaret "Joyce" LeBlanc

Margaret Joyce (Gillard) LeBlanc, 87 Reserve Mines, NS It is with great sadness that we, the family of Margaret Joyce (Gillard) LeBlanc, age 87 of Reserve Mines, announce her passing on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Born March 24, 1936, in Glace Bay, Joyce grew up on North Street. She married Sylvester LeBlanc, and they built their home in Reserve Mines where they raised their family of seven children. After owning a convenience store and a wholesale business, Joyce and Syl moved to Ontario, and then to Halifax to work as a superintendent couple. Upon retirement they moved back to Reserve Mines to be near family and friends. Joyce always had a welcome at her door, a pot of tea on the stove, and a freshly baked good. She will especially be remembered for her homemade bread, her succulent fudge, and a pot for Frico always on the stove. With seven children, the LeBlanc home was always bustling with cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends upon friends, wherein our home was tagged as “Grand Central Station” by Dad. Joyce will lovingly be remembered by her children: Gordon (Katherine); Patsy (Spencer); Anne Shirley (Kenny); Blair (Jacqueline); Cathy (Bruce); Sandra (Bram); daughter-in-law Marguerite; 22 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; sisters, Pat Winstanley (Roy, deceased), Marlyn Dellaire (Donald), Shirley Morrison (James, deceased); in-laws, Charlotte Owen (Murray), Jeanette McMullin (Dave), Steve LeBlanc (Eileen), Gary LeBlanc (Donna), and numerous other family members and friends. She will also be fondly remembered by her numerous “adopted children” – too many to mention but you know who you are. Joyce was predeceased by her parents, Gordon and Veronica (née Brown) Gillard; her husband of 65 years, Sylvester; her son, Ken; her grandson, Aaron; siblings, Willie Gillard (Mary Frances), Helen Gillard, Sarah (Belle) Simmons (Allan), Gordon (Chum) Gillard; and in-laws, Rita Westhaver (Victor), Lena Young (Gerald), Henry LeBlanc, Wilbert White (Barbara). The family of Joyce would like to express their gratitude to the nurses of the south wing, third floor, at Glace Bay General Hospital. Their compassion and service to our mother was exemplary and unmatched. A Visitation for Joyce followed by a Celebration of Life for both Joyce and Sylvester LeBlanc (deceased December 15, 2020) will be held on Monday, June 26, 2023, at 12:00 p.m., in T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, 370 Reserve Street, Glace Bay. 902.849.4199. MOM – you taught us the most important lessons in life. How to love, how to forgive, how to appreciate family…and how to make bread. We will miss you terribly until we meet again. Words of comfort may be expressed to the family by visiting www.tjtracey.com.