Obituary for Joyce L. Kaelin
Joyce Loretta Kaelin passed peacefully on April 15, 2020.
Born 12/15/1929 in Jamestown, Pennsylvania to Warren and Rosella Johnson, she was a wife, mother, clergy, friend and cheerful volunteer in the community.
Joyce raised her 4 children as an Air Force wife in Texas, New Hampshire, Germany, Long Island New York and Colorado. She was playfully nicknamed ‘Mrs. Santa Claus’ by her kids’ friends, rarely swearing, displaying a surprising wit and always practicing a code of kindness. (sometimes taking flack for her acceptance of others and desire to keep peace.)
She loved religion and music, especially Arthur Fiedler’s Boston Pops (Pops on Ice was a favorite).
She was an ordained member of the Secular Franciscan Order and practiced it’s core beliefs which are teaching, charity and social service. Among the activities she practiced were “old fashioned” home making skills: sewing, cooking and needlework. She assisted children with disabilities as a teacher's aide, helped with Girl Scouts, was a room mother at Divine Redeemer and thoroughly enjoyed working as a Pink Lady at Penrose St Francis Hospital and volunteer at Mount Saint Francis for many, many years.
Joyce is survived by her oldest daughter (Peg) Kaelin Lundgren and husband Chuck Lundgren of Chico, California; Susan Kaelin; Elaine Hipps and husband Jim Hipps; grandson Garrett Hipps;daughter-in-law, Loretta Kaelin; grandchildren Cecily and Lawrence Kaelin, as well as and her great grandsons Julian and Aydan Kaelin of Colorado Springs. She was the youngest and last surviving child of 6 children, Maynard (Main), Howard, Arbutus, Winifred, Rodger, (Joyce) all of whom have passed on. She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Edward Kaelin, and her husband of more than 50 years, Daniel A. Kaelin.
She celebrated her 90th birthday last December with family. Despite having had Dementia/Alzheimer’s for the past several years she was known as ‘one of the happiest dementia patients’ in the facilities where she was loved and well cared for.
She is dearly loved and will be missed by many. A private Catholic burial will be held this week, and a celebration of life will be planned for later this year.
May her soul rest in peace, as she now joins her husband Dan, her son Thomas, as well as many family and friends in heaven.
Born 12/15/1929 in Jamestown, Pennsylvania to Warren and Rosella Johnson, she was a wife, mother, clergy, friend and cheerful volunteer in the community.
Joyce raised her 4 children as an Air Force wife in Texas, New Hampshire, Germany, Long Island New York and Colorado. She was playfully nicknamed ‘Mrs. Santa Claus’ by her kids’ friends, rarely swearing, displaying a surprising wit and always practicing a code of kindness. (sometimes taking flack for her acceptance of others and desire to keep peace.)
She loved religion and music, especially Arthur Fiedler’s Boston Pops (Pops on Ice was a favorite).
She was an ordained member of the Secular Franciscan Order and practiced it’s core beliefs which are teaching, charity and social service. Among the activities she practiced were “old fashioned” home making skills: sewing, cooking and needlework. She assisted children with disabilities as a teacher's aide, helped with Girl Scouts, was a room mother at Divine Redeemer and thoroughly enjoyed working as a Pink Lady at Penrose St Francis Hospital and volunteer at Mount Saint Francis for many, many years.
Joyce is survived by her oldest daughter (Peg) Kaelin Lundgren and husband Chuck Lundgren of Chico, California; Susan Kaelin; Elaine Hipps and husband Jim Hipps; grandson Garrett Hipps;daughter-in-law, Loretta Kaelin; grandchildren Cecily and Lawrence Kaelin, as well as and her great grandsons Julian and Aydan Kaelin of Colorado Springs. She was the youngest and last surviving child of 6 children, Maynard (Main), Howard, Arbutus, Winifred, Rodger, (Joyce) all of whom have passed on. She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Edward Kaelin, and her husband of more than 50 years, Daniel A. Kaelin.
She celebrated her 90th birthday last December with family. Despite having had Dementia/Alzheimer’s for the past several years she was known as ‘one of the happiest dementia patients’ in the facilities where she was loved and well cared for.
She is dearly loved and will be missed by many. A private Catholic burial will be held this week, and a celebration of life will be planned for later this year.
May her soul rest in peace, as she now joins her husband Dan, her son Thomas, as well as many family and friends in heaven.