Obituary of Joyce Heibein
Joyce Heibein (née Palmer)
May 3, 1935 – April 12, 2025
At Huronlea Home in Brussels, Ontario, on Saturday, April 12, 2025, Joyce Heibein, formerly of Leamington and London, Ontario, passed away at the age of 89 due to complications from vascular dementia.
Joyce was the beloved mother of Kevin Heibein of Horseshoe Valley; Heather and Dave Robertson of Gorrie; Holly Heibein of Vancouver; and Pamela and Steve Place of Questa, New Mexico. She was a proud and loving grandmother to Alyssa and Matt Van Wyk, Dustin Robertson, and William Place, and a joyful great-grandmother to Ryder and Ellery Van Wyk. Joyce was also a caring aunt to Ron and Joe (Rose) Palmer. She was predeceased by her parents, Ione and Bruce Palmer; her brother Deane Palmer; and sister-in-law Theresa Palmer.
Born in May 1935 in Cottam, Ontario, Joyce grew up on a farm just outside Leamington alongside her older brother Deane. When the Great Depression forced the family to give up their farm, they moved into Leamington where her parents worked at the H.J. Heinz factory. These early years gave Joyce a deep well of strength, modesty, and practicality that would shape her life.
After graduating from high school, Joyce moved to Windsor where she worked at Chrysler’s, including a rare cross-border assignment in Detroit. Through a mutual friend, she met Bill Heibein, whom she married in 1966. Together they raised their family Kevin, Heather, Holly, and Pamela—first in London and later in North Bay, Ontario, where they lived until 1986.
While raising a bustling household, Joyce found joy in the small things: Bridge games with neighbours, hand-stitched quilts, involvement with the United Church and Canadian Girls in Training (CGIT), and evenings filled with card games like Euchre, Rummoli, and Crokinole. She always had a love for music, which found an outlet when she joined the Baytones women’s barbershop-style chorus in North Bay, singing bass and sharing in the warmth of community harmonies. Joyce and Bill also shared a passion for restoring antique furniture and nurturing a flourishing garden.
Joyce's lifelong curiosity and love for travel led her to a career as a travel agent once her daughters were school-aged. She delighted in “fam” trips to destinations like Europe, Thailand, and the Caribbean, and she was known for organizing fun and well-planned theatre outings to Toronto to see Mirvish performances and enjoy the buzz of the “big city.”
When she finally became an “empty nester,” Joyce took full advantage of her independence and her home’s proximity to Western University. She participated in a house swap with a visiting professor and his partner from Ireland. While they spent a year in her home in London, Joyce lived in their home in Belfast—an experience that became a lifelong highlight for all involved. Her new Irish friends loved Canada so much that they eventually emigrated, a testament to Joyce’s warmth and hospitality.
After retiring, Joyce relocated to Leamington to be closer to her ailing brother Deane and to reconnect with her childhood hometown. She embraced her return to the area with her trademark zest, hosting family and friends and planning countless outings to Point Pelee National Park and Pelee Island.
When Joyce’s health began to decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, she moved to Livingstone Manor in Listowel to be nearer to family. As her needs progressed, she transferred to Huronlea Home in Brussels, where she received exceptional care. Her family is profoundly grateful to the compassionate staff at both Livingstone Manor and Huronlea for their kindness and dignity in caring for Joyce as her memory faded.
A Celebration of Joyce’s Life will be held at Howick Community Centre (45088 Harriston Road) on Saturday, April 19th, 2025 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
In accordance with her final wishes, she will laid to rest at the feet of her mother, Mrs. Ione Robinson (née Palmer, née Campbell), in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery, Leamington.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Alzheimer Society Huron Perth, or to a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
