Joyce Jones, 1925-2025

Sadly, our Joyce has passed away, just a few weeks short of her 100th birthday. She was an exceptionally kind and generous person who shared her love of rug hooking with all of us. In recent years her friend, Deb Patton, brought her to our hooking most Thursday’s - she certainly enjoyed the cameraderie of our gatherings and we loved listening to her insight to our questions. June was a special month when we could all gather at her home near Baltimore and enjoy a morning of hooking in amongst her many wonderful hooked rugs. 

Here is some more information from her obituary, published by Maccoubreys in Cobourg, augmented with a few photos from our archives:

Lillian Joyce Jones

August 23, 1925 - August 1, 2025

Joyce has passed away peacefully at Northumberland Hills Hospital after a short illness, in her 100th year. 

Born in Toronto, Joyce was the eldest daughter of Major John E. Finlay (MC) and Lillian Maude Finlay (Jackson). Joyce spent her childhood in Tory Hill, with her sister Joan, and formed a life long attachment to Haliburton. 

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Joyce hooked this image of the farm she grew up on. 

During the Depression, her family relocated to Toronto. After high school, Joyce attended the University of Toronto, graduating in 1948 with a Fine Arts Degree, Art and Architecture. Following her graduation, Joyce worked in the University’s Rare Book Library. 

During her early college years, Joyce served with the Farmerettes, an organization of young women who worked on area farms while the men were overseas fighting the war. Joyce is featured in a new documentary called We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of the Farmerettes, where she speaks of her service to her country. 

In 1950, she married Jack Jones, a Civil Engineer and started her family. Following Jack’s career in harbour planning, she relocated to small towns on the Great Lakes - Sarnia, Niagara Falls, Cornwall and her favourite, Little Current.

In 1956, after Jack became Chief Engineer for Toronto Harbour, the young family settled in Cooksville where she raised her three children. At this time, Joyce became involved with the University Women’s Group, and the local Rug Hooking Guild of Mississauga. 

Joyce hooked this image of her home in Mississauga. 

In 1983, following retirement, Jack and Joyce purchased their beloved farm north of Cobourg and set about enjoying the 1845 stone house and scenic Northumberland Hills.

Avid sailors and boat owners, Joyce would join Jack on many sailing adventures. Joyce’s great passion, however, was driving and she discovered every back road that could be explored. 

Widowed in 2004, Joyce continued to live at Willow Ridge Farm, on her own, for the rest of her life. She maintained an active and engaging lifestyle, continuing with her crafts and building her extensive collection of rare and unusual books. 

Her hand hooked rugs are legendary, winning awards and renown, many are of her own classic designs. Her contributions to the craft were inspirational and she was a valued and gifted member of the Rug Hookers of Northumberland Guild. 

Joyce was an avid researcher of history and enjoyed her involvement with the Antiquers Group of Cobourg, always with an intriguing awareness of historical events. She was a volunteer in period dress at Lang Pioneer Village, encompassing all her talents and interests, and a member of the Cobourg Library and The Art Gallery of Northumberland. 

As the keeper of family history, she was proud of her Scottish and Loyalist ancestors who carved out life in early Canada. Her home is filled with cherished family heirlooms and fascinating stories. Her quiet passions were many and her agile, intriguing and curious mind was enjoyed by all who knew her.

Joyce is survived by her daughter Nancy (Brian), sons Doug (Avril) and Peter (Donna). Her grandsons Alistair (Suzanne) and Andrew (Keisha) have given her five great grandchildren - Esben, Maisy-Bea, Breeze, Enid and Rhys. Her elegance and devotion will be lovingly missed by her family. 

She will be fondly remembered by many cherished friends and neighbours. 

Joyce was a remarkable woman, with a witty sense of humour, a wise, clever and generous spirit, an astonishing memory and a heartfelt love of country life. She remains a treasure to us all.

Visitation will be held from 1-2 pm. on Sunday August 17th at the MacCoubrey Funeral Home, 30 King St., E., Cobourg, followed by a funeral service at 2 pm. Interment will be held at Baltimore East Cemetery the following week Saturday August 23rd, which would have been her 100th birthday, all are invited to attend.