Our amazing mum, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, cousin, neighbour and friend, Joyce Burrage, left us on Friday January 22nd 2021. She was 85 years old and passed only weeks before her 86th birthday.

Joyce Maureen Meredith was born on February 9th 1935. The youngest of five children (Arthur, Teddy, Ada and Joe), she grew up in Battersea and lived in south-west London all her life.

Her first job was at the OK Sauce factory in Wandsworth and, in 1954, she married the love of her life, Roy Burrage. A year later, their first child Steve was born and, in 1962, their family was complete when daughter Julie arrived. 

In the late 60's, Joyce and Roy took over ownership of the Unity Tavern pub in Battersea. It was there where they made countless lifelong friends and memories with Joyce fearlessly running the bar and Roy providing the entertainment. Joyce was famous for her legendary quick-wit and incredible memory skills while having to often deal with inebriated customers in her own brilliantly inimitable style. 

At the start of the 80's, Joyce and Roy left the pub and relocated to Southfields in Wandsworth. It was there where, for many years, they provided the perfect family base for the ever extending Burrage and Sneath families. Joyce would spend hours playing games (and providing sweets) for her granchildren who loved spending time at 75 Elborough Street. Joyce and Roy, who had now started his own roofing business with son Steve, would spend several wonderful holidays abroad with friends and family.

When Roy sadly passed away in 1991 and Joyce's mother, Matilda, a few years later, Joyce moved to Brookwood Road in Southfields where she lived for the remainder of her life. Her small, cosy flat continued to be a constant hub of love and joy with family and friends regularly visiting for a chat and several cups of tea. She was never happier than when playing with her great-grandchildren Isabel, Aurelie, Emily and Skylar who adored seeing their Nanny Joyce.

Even in her last years and when the cruelness of dementia took it's toll, Joyce's spirit and energy shone through. Where she couldn't communicate through words, her smile radiated and always when in the company of her family and friends. She continued to dress imacculately every day, always made up and would never miss a hair appointment. Joyce adored food and the joy of eating with family especially her favourites of Pie and Mash, a Full English, Fish and Chips, KFC and a Toby Carvery. And she always wanted to pay even though the family would never let her.

When Joyce passed, the sadness of the loss was quickly replaced by those countless indelible memories filled with laughter and joy. At her funeral, the Nat King Cole standard 'Smile' will accompany the coffin with the poignant words 'Smile, though your heart is aching... smile even though it's breaking'.

If ever there was someone who would want you to be happy throughout all of the tears and sadness, and who would do everything in her power to make you smile, it was Joyce Burrage.

Joyce's funeral will take place on Tuesday 9 February at 10am - details of how to watch online are below. In lieu of flowers at her funeral and to support Dementia UK, the family invites you to donate to them and support their work in fighting all forms of Dementia. 

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FUNERAL DETAILS

https://www.obitus.com/

Username Cuvo7342

Password 325976

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