Joyce Ann Holden

Joyce Ann Holden (nee Pickering) passed away peacefully on May 29, 2024, at the age of 85 in Kingston, Ontario. She was born September 10, 1938 in New Castle, Indiana and lived in Richmond for many years.

Joyce grew up in Indiana and Southern California, graduating from Winchester High School. She earned a BA in English with honors from Friends University in Wichita, KS, where she met her previous husband, Keith Mardock. In 1983, she married David Holden and moved to Kingston, Ontario. They celebrated their 40th anniversary last summer.

Joyce devoted her career to working in the church in various capacities. She served as a missionary in Kenya soon after it gained independence. She developed Sunday School curriculum for Friends United Meeting and served as adjunct faculty to Earlham School of Religion and Queens Theological School for Christian Education. For 17 years, she was the Associate Minister at Chalmers United Church in Kingston. In her retirement, she was an active in the United Church of Canada’s national leadership.

Joyce was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was a lifelong learner who had a passion for reading and traveling. She and her husband traveled through Mexico, Europe, the United States and Canada. For more than 35 years, she loved going to the Chautauqua Institute in upstate New York, loved for its enriching arts, lectures and preaching. Last year, she was inducted into the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, one of the oldest book clubs in the United States.

Joyce is survived by her husband, David Holden, her children Jayne (Rick) Cabigas and Kirk (Karen) Mardock, her stepchildren Ted (Liane) Holden, Alex (Julie) Holden, Lynne (Hugh) Gardiner, and Katherine Holden, as well as 11 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter. She is preceded in death by her parents Kenneth and Ruthanna (Leamon) Pickering and her brother, James Pickering.

A service to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held at Spiceland Friends Meeting on July 26th at 11:00 am. A graveside service will follow in the Circle Grove Cemetery across the street, where she will be buried with 5 generations of her family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in her honor to the Ecumenical Community of Chautauqua at https://www.ecoc-chautauqua.org/donate-now/ or mail to Gift Donation, ECOC, P. O. Box 988, Chautauqua, NY 14722 Joyce's legacy of love, kindness, and dedication to serving others will be deeply cherished by all who knew her.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service, in New Castle. You may express condolences or share a memory of Joyce at www.hinsey-brown.com.