Joyce (Wilkie) LaChapelle

Joyce LaChapelle

North Sydney

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Joyce (Wilkie) LaChapelle, at the age of 94, on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.

Born in Poulamon, Richmond County, NS, on April 5, 1925, she was the daughter of the late William and Irene (Fougere) Wilkie.

At the age of 18, Joyce left North Sydney for Halifax, eventually meeting her husband Bud, with whom she was married for 51 years. Together they lived in Montreal and then Ottawa for 35 years before returning to North Sydney to settle permanently in the latter half of their lives.

Joyce is survived by her two daughters, Joanne, North Sydney, and Arlene, Ottawa; her brothers Edgar Wilkie, Albert (Phyllis) Wilkie, Gordon (Muriel) Wilkie, all of North Sydney; her sisters Freda MacLeod, Bedford, and Brenda (Mel) Birmingham, Groves Point; sisters in law Mary Wilkie, Joanne Wilkie, both of North Sydney and Reine LaChapelle, Montreal, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Joyce was predeceased by her husband Gilbert “Bud” LaChapelle, her brothers Arthur, Donnie, and George (Lexie) Wilkie, as well as her sister Catherine (Bill) Mulley.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful men and women who interacted with Joyce on a daily basis: from the men who picked her up by taxi every morning, to the women from the Northside Homemakers (Nina, Jan, Tammy, Michelle, and many more), and the Harbourview Seniors Day Program. All of you helped our very special mother start her day on a positive note. Not a typical 94-year-old, the ever-gracious hostess loved being with people and looked forward to every day. She enjoyed dancing (yes, dancing), music, entertaining, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, and chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate.

By request there will be no visitation. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10 am on Saturday, December 28, at St. Joseph Church in North Sydney, with Rev. Doug MacDonald officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant Street, North Sydney. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.wjdooley.com.      

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