Obituaries

Sylvia “Joyce” Gillhooley, 84, of Sault Ste. Marie, passed away on October 22nd, 2023, at the Ball Hospice House surrounded by her family.

Joyce was born in Detroit, Michigan to Earl and Bernice Wood on January 9th, 1939. She married Edwin Gillhooley on June 24th, 1961, in Detroit. She managed Gillhooley’s Pharmacy alongside her husband Ed, for twenty years. She was an active member of her community and the Episcopal Church, singing in the church choir as with the Sweet Adelines, coordinating community events and parades, competitively bowled, enjoyed golf, dancing, and romance novels.

Joyce was also known for her Blue-Ribbon pies, apple sauce, jellies, and jams. In her retirement years, she loved spending time at the family cabin with her grandchildren and making PB&Js after school. She is remembered by her family as sweet, funny, mischievous grandma Joyce. Always smiling, happy to be a judge in the kitchen, especially when it involved desserts.

Joyce is survived by her sons, Jim (Tina) Gillhooley, Michael (Melissa) Gillhooley; daughter, Lorrie Gillhooley; her brother, John (Carolyn) Wood; sister, Trudy (Art) Krebs; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband, Edwin Gillhooley; great-grandson, Camden Baril; brother, James Wood; sister-in-law, Pam Wood; and niece Michelle Lesniak.

A celebration of life will be held Friday, October 27th at the Christopher Columbus Hall (basement) from 3-6 PM for family, friends, and community members looking to pay their respects.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in Joyce’s name to the EUP Ball Hospice house. https://www.hospiceoftheeup.com/donate/