JOYCE LILLIAN DUMAIS

Oct 17, 1940 – July 29, 2026

It is with love and sadness we announce the passing of Joyce Lillian Dumais (née Lamotte) on July 29, 2026, at the age of 85.   Joyce was born in Canwood, SK on October 17, 1940, to her parents, Margaret and Thorald LaMotte.

Joyce was the youngest of 5 children, and daughter of a true pioneer family.  The family lived happily in a small log cabin built by her father and uncle near Debden, SK.   She would ride her horse Susie to school with her brother Dennis alongside her sister Yvonne and brother Dale on their horse Maude in the summer and they would all cross country ski together in the winters.  Joyce attended Silent Call School and completed her Grade 8 education, the highest level offered at the rural school, before working on the family farm full time.  Joyce was a true tomboy and hard worker preferring to be outside working in the fields with her brothers.  Difficult times would punctuate her life, with her dad passing when Joyce was only 11, her brother Vern and her mother Margaret when Joyce was in her mid-twenties, and then later in life, brother Dennis.  Always speaking of her upbringing with joy, full of many stories and humour, she would say, “It was hard times, but we were very happy.”   A favorite memory was when her dad would come home from town and fill the cabin floor with groceries and treats for all the kids.

Joyce was an excellent athlete, excelling in many sports.  She was a star pitcher, hockey player and competitive curler.  Often curling with her brother Dale, they would come home and replay the game on the kitchen table with coffee cups and potential shots they could have made.  She lived and worked on the family farm for 15 years after her school years before meeting her husband, Alfred Dumais, and moving to Prince Albert, SK.  Their first meeting was at the Debden elevator where she was tossing fertilizer bags into the back of her truck.

She married Alfred in 1967 and had two children, Cardell in 1969 and Lyne in 1973.  Once married, her focus changed from sports and farming to dedicating her time to raising her children, tending to huge gardens both on the farm and in town, exercise and baking her famous cinnamon buns for the neighborhood children and her grandchildren.  Joyce worked several jobs to ensure her children would have the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education.  Always up for a challenge, at age 61, after a lifelong fear of water following the drowning of her older brother Vern, she learned how to swim.

She was predeceased by her husband Alfred in 2009, as well as her parents, two brothers, brother-in-law Francis Rask, and nephew Sheldon Rask.

Joyce is survived by her brother, Dale (Helen) Lamotte; sister, Yvonne (Francis) Rask; her daughter, Lyne (Chad) Schneider; son, Cardell; and 4 grandchildren, Kate and Matthew Schneider and Carson and Jarrett Dumais; numerous nieces and nephews; and 3 sisters-in-law.

Joyce will be lovingly remembered for her quick wit and sense of humour, ability to tell a great story, love of animals, dedication to fitness, gardening, many knitting projects and hard work.  When asked what she was most proud of, without hesitation she said, “my family.”

A Celebration of Joyce’s life will be held on October 10, 2026, at 1:00 pm at St Mark Catholic Church, 581 9^th Street East, Prince Albert, SK, with lunch to follow in the church basement.  Please join us to celebrate Mom’s life with Rev. Fr. DJ Vu officiating.  Interment will be at Prince Albert Memorial Gardens next to her husband of 42 years and lifelong family friends.

Family and friends may leave online condolences at https://grays.ca

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Gray’s Funeral Chapel,
Lisa Bos-Atchison, Funeral Director.    306-922-4729

• Date : 2026-07-29
• Location : Kamloops, BC