A Closer Look at Influential BCWI members JOYCE ALBANY – 1919 - 2014

How do you say that final goodbye to a dear friend? Some one who was always there when you needed them – to offer counsel, to brighten your day, to ease your heart when life was hard? 

That’s the dilemma I faced in 2014, and I know in British Columbia Women’s Institute circles, I am not alone. We lost a treasured member, and a wise voice has fallen still, for Joyce Albany now belongs to the ages. 

I first remember meeting Joyce at the 1976 BC Women’s Institute Convention at the University of Victoria, although she told me she remembered me from the 1974 Convention in Nelson. I was aware of her there, for who could listen to her reports on the activities and antics of the little ones at the Queen Alexandra Centre and not remember her? But I don’t remember talking with her in Nelson – perhaps it was all too new to me, for that was my first convention. 

In Victoria, though, we spent some time together, and indeed, she helped me make connections back to Vancouver to pick up my flight home, for I had to stay a little longer in Victoria than the others from Peace River. I was both the Peace River District President, and a newly elected Provincial Board Director at the time.

A few years later, when we both attended the Associated Country Women of the World Conference in Hamburg, we roomed together, and the bond between us was strengthened greatly. After you live with someone for nearly three weeks, especially someone as full of life, love and compassion as Joyce, you come away with a very special place in your heart for that person.

When the planning started for the 1983 Conference in Vancouver, I asked Joyce if she would take on the role of Volunteer Coordinator – and she agreed. That meant many letters and telephone calls, and she and her team were marvelous in their handling of that aspect of the gathering. I can remember writing a long letter to her one cold winter evening when too many plans were in jeopardy, too many things going wrong. At the end of the letter I remember adding, “I am sorry to unload like this on you, but I had to count my worry beads to someone” – a few days later I received a beautiful card on which she wrote: “Not to worry – it will all be fine!” And it was.  It seemed she had a direct line to the source of all knowledge and knew things would work out.

Over the years there were many hour long telephone calls – many hugs and expressions of affection for each other. Joyce, to me, represented the older sister I never had – the mother I never knew, and the counsel of a wise woman that was otherwise missing.

And I shall miss her: not only her wisdom, but also her laughter and her unique sense of humour. Remembering an incident in Hamburg, Germany, from 1980 always makes me smile, and I want to share that with you.

One morning when Jacquie Linde, Ida Boyd, Joyce and I had little to do, we thought we would go for a walk in the business area close to the Conference Centre in which the meetings were being held. We noticed that as we passed a small hotel, the two doormen looked us over with open questions on their faces. They were likely wondering who we were and what we were doing. After turning the next corner, Jacquie said she had to go back to the Conference site, as there was something she needed to prepare. So the three of us continued walking and talking, and without thinking about it, we found ourselves once again passing the two doormen. You could see they noted there was one fewer. Around the corner again and Ida announced she also needed to return to the hotel we were staying in, and that left Joyce and I. She said. “Let’s take another stroll past those two doormen.” So we did. And we noted the raised eyebrows and muffled comments between them. Around the corner again, and Joyce and I were in gales of laughter. One of us suggested a solo trip past the two men, but neither of us had the courage (or foolishness) to do that!

Joyce could find humour in everyday occurrences.  Too many of us are too busy to do so, but those who do can leave a  lasting impression of their personal joie de vive – that love of life that leavens the day, but also leaves a great vacancy when they are no longer with  us. She will always be with me in spirit, and I treasure my memories of her.

So, Joyce, we wish you Godspeed. And we shall miss you.

Ruth Fenner, Provincial Historian, British Columbia Women's Institute