Train Rides to Acts of Love

The story of Joyce Gerein

It was a cool day in Winnipeg on October 6, 1934, when Joyce Schmidt would enter this world. Joyce's birth mom was Eva Marie Harrison, who tragically passed away when Joyce was just four years old. Her father, Adam Schmidt, worked away; therefore, Joyce was cared for by her grandmother for a few years before boarding a troop train, which would end up being the first of many train rides in her life.

Joyce recalls her earliest memory with tears running down her face, "I remember standing at my mom's bedside, and the doctor was trying to revive her," whispers Joyce. This memory has been woven through the tapestry of her life, but as she tells her story, she claims to begin to feel some peace with it all.

Time would heal Adam's heart, and he would soon welcome a new lady into his life. They would eventually relocate to Edmonton and start a new life together. Joyce was not too fond of this idea and chose to stay behind and remain living with her grandma. At around seven years of age, Joyce began to wonder what it would be like to live with her father. With a determined spirit, she found his employer's phone number at the Canadian Packing House and made the call. Delighted to hear from his daughter, Adam sent money, and Joyce soon boarded a troop train where she would ride amongst soldiers returning from the war. Arriving in Edmonton with bags full of tobacco and candy the soldiers had given her, she was met with open arms by her father. Adam chuckled when he saw the bags of goodies and said to Joyce, 'I think I will send you back for another load"! Joyce was soon to be in for a bit of an awakening.

When they arrived at the family home in Forest Heights, Joyce remembers feeling like she had stepped from a little piece of heaven to a little piece of hell. The house was old and had no bedrooms; there was no running water, only a coal-burning stove and an old outhouse. "I recall having to climb up a ladder to the attic where everyone slept", says Joyce.

She was used to a warm, larger home with lots of love, and adjusting to this new lifestyle was very difficult.

With angst in her heart, Joyce wanted to return to Winnipeg; however, after some conversations with her father, she realized she wanted to stay close to her siblings. Whilst her relationship with her 'new' mom was a bit challenging, Joyce would stay busy doing chores and attending school. "I learned at a young age that I had to learn to accept the things I could not change", says Joyce. Little did she know how important that line would become later in her life.

She completed up to grade 11 and then decided it was time for an adventure. Two of her girlfriends, Marilyn and Shirley Smith, along with herself, would hitchhike to Vancouver, where Joyce's cousins lived. Off they went, thumbs out and smiles on their faces; they would receive rides by wonderful people who were consistently intrigued when they discovered the trio's names were Joyce, Shirley, and Marilyn Smith! You see, Joyce's father chose to use the name Smith to avoid any retaliation during wartime. Their journey to Vancouver would not be linear; in fact, there would be some backtracking; however, everywhere they landed, they found themselves welcomed in for a night's rest and some food in their tummy. 'It all worked out wonderfully', says Joyce.

Before leaving Edmonton, Joyce frequented the Ukrainian Hall, where she would enjoy dancing, which became an important part of her life. Upon arriving in Vancouver, it wasn't long before she found the German Hall, where she found herself surrounded by soldiers and having a good time dancing the night away. Cupid struck, and one night in 1951, Joyce would lay eyes on her soon-to-be husband.

"I think I fell in love at first sight", tells Joyce. As we had our first dance, she asked the question that she always had asked, "How long have you been over here"? His reply was, 'I grew up here, ma'am'. They endured a beautiful courtship, and within a year, Adam Gerein and Joyce Schmidt were married. There were three pregnancies; however, only two children were born: Dave and Dorinda-Anne.

The marriage would endure some hardships, and on more than one occasion, Joyce would pack her bags and hop on a train one more time. Her journey amidst the 44 years included many great memories but also some difficult times. In Joyce's later years, she found herself leaning on alcohol to help her cope with life.

Her path led her to a program that helped save her life! Unity and connection to a Higher Power have given Joyce a life beyond her wildest dreams!

Adam became ill and ended up in the hospital, where Joyce found herself spending each waking moment by his side. Three days prior to his passing, Joyce tells a loving story with gratitude of tears: "I would fill a bucket of warm water and put it on my lap. I would then place my husband's feet in the soothing bucket of water, and I would bathe his feet". What a sacred act of love. In the wee hours on the fourth day, the call came in; her darling husband had taken his last breath.

To help cope with her loss, Joyce became a part of a grief support group which met weekly. God would see fit that this group would provide support and be an instrument of connection and relationship. Russell Wakaluk, a widow as well, attended the group, and with broken hearts, the two would begin to walk together through their own grief.

Often, it is in the darkest valleys that light has an opportunity to enter. Little by little, Joyce and Russell would share space together, and before long, a friendship grew into a special love. "You never can replace your husband's love, but, with an open mind and an open heart, it is possible to love again", shares Joyce. Russell and Joyce shared 23 beautiful years together. Funny enough, the two never married; each kept residence in their own homes and even took Mondays and Thursdays off from one another! "It worked for us", chuckles Joyce. "With Russell, I found a happiness I never thought I would find again".

As fate would have it, Russell took ill and yet again, Joyce found herself at the foot of a hospital bed, praying and bathing the feet of the man she loved. Russell passed away in her arms, and Joyce found herself walking the path of grief one more time. But as they say, if you never love, you will never grieve.

Joyce has been blessed with many friendships, the gift of being a Godmother to sweet Gabriel, a grandmother to 4, and looking forward to her first great-grandchild.

At the young age of 86, Joyce decided to move to Armstrong to be closer to her son. "In the months before her move, she and I often connected over the phone. When she arrived at Heaton Place, it was as if we knew each other for years," says Carrie O'Neill. Joyce settled into her beautiful two-bedroom suite and slowly began to adjust to Retirement Community Living. It did not come easy for her; as a matter of fact, her neighbour friends have found themselves talking her off the ledge from wanting to go back to Vancouver, but in time, and with prayer and sharing, Joyce came to that familiar place of 'accepting the things I cannot change.

Now, Joyce is happily involved in our daily activities, including serving with the Happy Hour Gang and calling our bingo several times a week and is a part of the 'Three J's', a trio of walking buddies. She shows up with a smile on her face and makes the best of each day. Despite some health challenges, Joyce's attitude is top-notch! Through laughter and connecting with her Heaton family, she is now happy to call Heaton Place home. The train ride continues for Joyce, and with her attitude, she will have many more memories to make while riding the train! It has been a joy watching this amazing lady live life to the fullest, one day at a time!