How on earth am I supposed to sum up my mother in a simple paragraph? It cannot be done.

Joy would be the first to tell you she was not a Saint. She'd openly admit she made many mistakes in this life. Treating people badly was not one of them. Joy was the embodiment of her name. She had a warm smile and a greeting for everyone. A ray of sunshine on a rainy day. She didn't care about the color of your skin, how much money you had, who you loved, who you voted for, your disability status, your mental health issues, or your struggles with addiction. To her we are all God's children and Jesus gave us the commandment to love one another. It wasn't her place to judge anyone, it was her job to love.

The elderly and disabled held special place in Joy's heart. God placed them in her path everywhere she went. Her children and grandchildren were without a doubt the love of her life and let's not forget her little dog!