Joy Emily Emma Elaine (Spearman) Hillhouse

It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of our beloved sister, aunt, and cousin, Joy Hillhouse. Joy passed away peacefully with family at her side on November 12, 2024. She had suffered a stroke in 2020, and had lived in Personal Care Homes in both McCreary and Dauphin, until her death.
Joy was predeceased by her husband, Vernon Hillhouse, in 2007; her father, Clifford Spearman, in 1973; her mother, Gudrun Spearman, née Jensen, in 1997, and her cousin, Gail Trumbla, née Taylor, in 2023.
Joy is survived by her brother Glenn (Laura) Spearman, sisters Judy (Robert) Taylor, Jean (Allan) Carriere, Phyllis (Garry) Chartrand, Verna Spearman, cousin Brian Taylor, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Joy was born on November 7th, 1946 in Melfort, Saskatchewan to Melvin “Clifford” and Gudrun Spearman. She was the first of six children born to them. In 1963 the family expanded when cousins Gail and Brian Taylor came to live with them, and the children all grew up together as siblings.
 In 1952 Joy contracted Polio. She spent many months in the Regina Hospital for Sick Children, with many others, who also had Polio. The disease affected her legs and doctors said that she would never walk again, but she proved them wrong. With the use of special shoes with leg braces and crutches she showed everyone that she could walk again.
Joy survived Polio as a young girl, and while it impacted her body for the rest of her life, she dealt with it with dignity and did not let it get the best of her. What did get the best of her, truly where she put forth the best effort, was in her relationship with her family, friends and all the animals she loved. Joy loved all her animals, her own and those she groomed right here in Dauphin. (Some may recall “Miamigo K9 Salon” that she ran downtown and later from her home. Her husband Vern ran the Dauphin Taxi while sharing the same building with “The Book Exchange.”)
Joy especially loved her Chihuahuas. She joined the Canadian Kennel Club and began raising Chihuahuas and winning in different Canadian dog shows. While raising her prize winning Chihuahuas, she was successful in selling them across Canada. Joy also had a great love for horses and would often be seen horseback riding with her sisters or cousins.
Joy is greatly loved, will be dearly missed, and now sleeps, waiting for her Lord and Saviour to come and awaken her so that she will be reunited with her family in heaven.
 

A Funeral Service was held for Joy on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 2:00 pm from the Sneath-Strilchuk Family Care Centre in Dauphin with Pastor Amadeus Voyorite officiating.  

The service was recorded and will be posted when available.

Interment will follow at a later date.

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Joy may be made to March of Dimes Canada Head Office for Polio Canada or the Parkland Humane Society.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joy Emily Emma Elaine (Spearman) Hillhouse, please visit our floral store.