The family invites you to watch the Celebration of Joy's Life. Please click here



With heavy hearts we mourn the sudden passing of Joy Lorelle Lees, on Friday, November 24, 2023. Joy was born to parents Wayne Lees and Barbara Havens on June 29, 1982, in Olds, AB. In 1984, Wayne married Joy's stepmother Leah. Joy's childhood summers were spent at Havens' family farm near Madden, AB and as a family, the Lees lived in Lethbridge, Guelph, Saskatoon, Trinidad & Tobago, and ultimately settled in Oak Lake, MB in 1992.

Joy excelled at swimming and swam competitively during her years in Trinidad. During her middle school years in Oak Lake, she was involved in the 4-H pony club. She was a compassionate soul and was often found nursing unwanted or injured animals back to health.

Joy graduated with honours from Virden Collegiate Institute in 2000. She made her home in Oak Lake with her first love, Jason Schwindt. Their son Layne was born in 2002, followed by their daughter, Zoe, in 2004. Joy loved her children fiercely and they were truly the pride and joy of her life.

Joy moved to Brandon in 2012 and pursued a bachelor's degree in psychiatric nursing. She graduated from Brandon University in 2017 and went on to work as a nurse at Country Meadows personal care home in Neepawa. Joy had a special way with the elderly. She brought a kind heart, and a sense of humour to her work. Joy loved to create. She especially loved restoring old furniture and transforming cast off items into beautiful works of art. Although Joy struggled with mental health and addiction in her later years, she always maintained her humanity and compassion for others. She was loved by her family and her grit and determination through difficult circumstances was unmatched.

Joy was a free-spirit and was never afraid to test the limits. At her best she was fierce in her love - she was someone that you wanted in your corner.
Joy is predeceased by her mother Barbara. She is remembered by her children Layne and Zoe Schwindt, father Wayne and stepmother Leah Lees, brother Mike (Dawn) Lees and family, sister Jill (Allister) Gray and family, and sister Jocelyn Lees.

A Celebration of Life will take place at the Oak Lake community hall, on Tuesday, December 5th at 2:00 pm with live-stream available for those unable to attend in person. A private family interment will take place at a later date.

Donations in memory of Joy can be made to the YWCA Westman Women's Shelter, 158-11th St, Brandon, MB, R7A 4J4; ywcawestman.ca