In Memory of Joy Pecknold

There is a reason Joy Pecknold was nicknamed Joyful to many of us. Her wit and her laughter and her beautiful, big, empathetic heart filled our shared spaces and time spent together. We are devastated to have lost her far too soon and so very suddenly as the victim of a tragic car accident.

The Pecknold family is surrounded by a large community of care, people far-flung across the world. We have seen the impact of the love and shared grief that has reached out towards the family in the last few days, and have witnessed their gratitude. We have also heard from many people who have wondered just how they might offer support.

As a response, we’ve set up this GoFundMe to help ease an area of impact and stress and enable people to gather around. The hope is to assist with funeral and memorial expenses as well as provide any ongoing support to the Pecknolds as they navigate the uncertainties and unexpected costs of the weeks and months ahead. Any contribution, no matter its size, will be deeply appreciated and go directly to the Pecknold family.

There may be more, specific, non-monetary needs that arise in the next while and updates will be made as things evolve in the coming days and weeks.

Just two more things for now in honour of a woman who loved words and shared that love so beautifully. First, Joy’s sister Kara published a book of Joy’s poetry as a recent Christmas gift. That book is available for anyone to have if they want a tactile memory of her thoughts and words. You can find that here: https://tinyurl.com/mp575j8n

And second, work colleagues of Joy’s shared a poem with the family that is poignant in this moment, we thought to leave it here with you all.

“We Shake with Joy”

We shake with joy, we shake with grief.

What a time they have, these two

housed as they are in the same body.

—Mary Oliver

With love, gratitude and shared sorrow,

Ceri, Zach, Dawn and Tracey