Farewell to Joyce Marie Whittier Chaplin whose tireless social and political organizing left the world a better place. We will celebrate your spirit throughout our lives as we travel, entertain, and support each other. 

Born on November 28, 1929, in the beautiful seaside city of Halifax, Nova Scotia (Mi’kmaq land),  Joyce was "big sis" to Scottie and Nancy. Her father, Ralph Whittier, served in both World Wars in the Canadian Army, and her mother, Winnie Wood, was a teacher of the deaf. Joyce lived 96 years full of teaching, music, political engagement, and family. She remained a proud Canadian-only citizen throughout her life and returned each year to spend time with family and friends. One of Joyce's many skills was her ability to maintain and encourage extended family connections, as she flourished in the joy and strength it provided.

As children Joyce and her sisters biked often in and around Halifax, spent weekends on a nearby family farm, and sang together regularly for their parents as well as for many local events. They continued their singing tradition throughout their lives bringing joy to all of our family reunions. Joyce sang with and accompanied others as a pianist, including with her life-long friend Yvonne White, sister of the more famous singer Portia White; as part of a Dalhousie University group called The Bunkhouse Boys; and with Karen Keckler singing songs from the musical, “I’m getting my act together and taking it on the road.”  

Travelling was a big part of Joyce’s life. In November of 1954 she married David Chaplin, a tall handsome graduate student, after getting a ride with him from Portland to Boston where they were both attending summer school.  Their marriage took them to Maine, Massachusetts, Nova Scotia, Peru, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Spain, England, the Netherlands, and Michigan as they followed work opportunities, family ties, and shared interests. On her own Joyce had additional adventures with her children in Kenya, Nicaragua, and Ireland; with a good friend for multiple trips on an old-time brigantine sailing ship; and on many smaller road trips with her daughter. 

Ever the organizer, she had her three children at approximately two-year intervals. Each had the wonderful opportunity to have Joyce live with them after her husband passed in 2017, with her last home being in Belfast with Alex, on a comfy bed next to three large windows overlooking a grassy meadow with trees in the background, a large bird feeder close by, music, art, and lots of family pictures. 

Joyce had many, many skills, but what has cemented her into the history of Kalamazoo and Madison were her parties, hosting from one to 80 guests. She made guests comfortable, well fed, entertained and wanting to come back for more. She was a wonderful cook, especially known for her Nova Scotian cinnamon swirl bread; her children sometimes wonder if that's why they had so many friends growing up! The many gatherings in her home in Kalamazoo were for political candidates, musicians, holidays, movie nights, fundraisers, and "just because." During one famous large fundraising night, the power went out; unfazed, she lit many candles and carried on, it was a night to remember! 

Joyce held many roles during her working career including as a mother, nurse, teacher of the deaf, substitute teacher in a middle-school, political activist, accompanist, page turner, and when her children were older, as a piano teacher. She also volunteered extensively serving on many boards, judging musical events, hosting fund-raisers for good causes, and giving many gallons of blood. As part of all this, for 48 years Joyce played a strong supportive role in her husband’s career as a sociology professor. This included cooking and caring for her family and home; sacrificing her own career ambitions (she did some training with the famous brain surgeon Walter Penfield); typing her husband’s dissertation multiple times on a type-writer; collecting data in Baltimore and Peru; and hosting numerous parties for her husband’s colleagues. 

Joyce was never one to sit still, unless sitting in the car or on a bleacher, with an Agatha Christie book, waiting for her children to complete whatever activity they were involved in. She could sometimes be heard by her oldest son, even from under water, while cheering him on at swim meets. She also volunteered extensively with the DaPonte String Quartet in Maine, the New Vic Theatre in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and with Howard Wolpe during his service as a U.S. Representative from Michigan. While living in Madison, Wisconsin in the 1960s, she was actively involved in the antiwar movement, especially with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.  A notable story her children often squeeze into conversations is when Joyce and David went to a Joan Baez concert. At the end of the concert Joan asked where she could get a bite to eat. In true form, Joyce invited her back to their house. Joan turned up with a surprise; a full entourage of her friends. They stayed and sang on into the wee hours of the night.

Along with her worldly travels, Joyce and her family spent nearly every summer in Nova Scotia at her family's 1800's farm near Upper Rawdon and in Portland, Maine, including regular vacations on Cliff Island and at the wonderful homes of her sister and brother-in-law (Linda and Fred Beck). [a]In retirement, she and David lived in Brunswick, Maine, where she remained involved in music and community life. Her two favorite post-retirement achievements were performing on piano as part of the Rossini Club and being the very elegant and skilled page turner for the late pianist and Bates professor, Frank Glazer. Her last page turning event was when Frank performed on his 99th birthday at Bates College. Their combined age at the time was about 182. They made a most elegant and stately presence on the stage and the concert was flawless.  

Joyce was predeceased by her parents, her nephews Kenneth and David, her sister-in-law Ellie, her sister Scottie, Scottie’s husband Jan, and many of her cousins, including her two "brother/cousins," John Wood and Sammy Wood.

Joyce is survived by her children, Duncan and his wife Kenga, Scott, and Alexandra; her grandchildren, Jeremiah, Skye, Ariel, and India-Rose; her sister Nancy and her husband Tim,; her sister-in-law Linda and her husband Fred; her nieces and nephews: Steven, Mark, Andrew, Nicholas, Anne, Katherine, Laura, Chris, and Susannah; their partners; and her many, many first, second, and third cousins including those who are twice and thrice removed (Joyce always knew how to figure that out!), and her god-daughter Claire. Joyce truly loved her extended family and got strength from simply knowing them. 

She died on January 18, 2026 in her daughter's home in Belfast where she had been receiving care for the last several months with help from the wonderful Bristol Hospice team. All three children were with her often during her last year and last week of her life. Joyce asked that her ashes be placed in Nova Scotia at her family homestead and in Maine, where her husband grew up and where she lived for over 30 years.. She will be missed, emulated, continually admired and always loved.

 As a small child her little sister Nancy once asked Joyce, “What happens when we die?” As a perfect example of Joyce’s wonderful encouraging nature, she replied, “It will be the greatest adventure of all!”

In lieu of flowers, and in honor of our mother's decades of activism and fundraising for worthy causes, please consider making a donation to a worthy cause of your choice, or to one of her favorites: 

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, a global membership-based feminist peacebuilding organisation that was founded in 1915 that she belonged to for a long time. 

The Daponte String Quartet, https://dapontequartet.org/donate/ an internationally renowned quartet based in Maine that has played locally and overseas, everywhere from small high schools to Carnegie Hall.