Well Sunday was a very very good day!!! It was a fitting tribute for MOM! I for one believe she had a little hand in the day turning out so beautifully.
This is just a short note I will add something later. Please feel free to use this site to add some thoughts or memories of your own, We would so enjoy hearing about your heartfelt memories of her!!   Thanx for the wonderful day it was great to see you all!!!   Don



If you are receiving this e-mail, you either knew our Mother “Jo” Joyce Peterson or, one of us –

 
 
Please join us in a “Celebration of Her Life” on Sunday, June 2nd 2013, from 10:30am – 2:30pm at Wabun Park, Site “G” right before the Vet's Home, in Minneapolis, above the river next to Minnehaha Park near 46th street and the Ford Bridge, and parking is free.  We would like to do a “Potluck” picnic, because she so enjoyed just being with family and friends and trying to feed them all – Please extend this invitation to anyone we may have missed, we know there are many and also any who don't e-mail or may not see the St. Paul paper or Legacy.com -

 
 
Please see Legacy.com for the complete obit - Type in Joyce Peterson - AZ for the state and the last 6 months for the date.




 We know some of you may receive this more than once and we also know some of you may receive this and not know who we are - cyber-mail, what can I say
we will supply beverages,tableware,meat.

 
 

 Sincerely -

The Peterson Family

Grandma Joyce was also a beloved Grandma to many of Ivy's day care kids, mine included, and she will always have a special place in our hearts (as do Ivy, Bill, Josh and Gabe).  Spread the Love!  The Schoenberg-Ebertz Family

Please come join us, JUNE 2nd, 10:30 to 2:30 in mpls. 
To celebrate the very special life of "Jo Peterson."
Location:  Minnehaha park:  Wabun pinic area "G"
46th st. E. to 46th ave. so. 55417
Contact info: for Ivy, is,  ivyjodumas@gmail.com
or for Don,  dpardo88@gmail.com

This is a letter that is proudly displayed on the wall in our Mothers home.
   "Reprinted with the permission of the author, her grandson, Austin." I am told this was an eighth grade class assignment. Austin is now a HS Senior.

                "Hero"

   The definition for a hero in Greek legends is a man of superhuman strength, courage or ability. Though my hero isn't anything like Zeus, Poseidon, or Apollo. She is one of the most significant people in my life.
   Her name is Joyce Peterson, I never call her that but what I do call her is Grandma Jo. She lives in the residing city of Phoenix, Arizona. My family and I have been trying to get our beloved Grandma Jo to move in with us for a few months to see how she likes it here. I personally know for a fact that if she would just give it a chance she would love it.
   Grandma Jo shows continual perseverance, and has gone through a lot of stress in her life. First of all, she has been diagnosed with cancer three times. I have never had cancer, but have heard cancer is depressing. Also she has had hip replacement making one leg longer than the other. She wears a special shoe so she doesn't walk with a limp.
   I admire her greatly. Do you know how tough it would be to raise six children on your own? Well you guessed it. My Grandma does.
   These are just a few characteristics that she poses. There are plenty more that I haven't spoken about. She is a wonderful person, and this is why she is my hero.

Dear Joyce, 
We never knew each other, yet I feel compelled to say a little something here..I am a friend of your son, Don..Met Don in Iowa back in the 80s when he came to my hse to install cable from the local cable company there in the town I had just moved to from Calif...He made our move from California to Iowa much more of an easier adjustment by befriending my family & myself..He always spoke so highly of you...When talking about you he always had a hint of a sparkle in his eyes..The look of love for you shone in your sons' eyes..So, that tells me you must have been a very good person, one I wished I would have had the opportunity to meet...The love & devotion you gave your son, Don, he now passes on to others in his path of life..
Sincerely, Maurine

I first meet Joyce in 1960 at Spider Lake in northern Minnesota. Over the years after I moved to California, she always said to stop by when I was in the neighborhood, which I did. I always left feeling better than when I arrived. She had that very special gift of unconditional positive regard and love for her family and friends. She allowed me into her circle of family and friends for which I'll be for ever greatful. I miss our phone calls already. There's a hole in my heart.    

Bill Osborn

Joyce, 

We met only once while I was in St. Paul in 1980.

Then I spoke with you very briefly while at my Mother's (Glenda Bartoli Mankey) several weeks ago. While the conversation was short, I noticed that you seemed very calm and pleasant despite the circumstances. I am very grateful for the companionship and closeness you have shared with my mother. Looking at her writing entries and recalling the numerous past stories she has told of you, I can perceive the precious role you had in her life and others.  

While it is not for me to speak of the heavens and afterlife here, to paraphrase a line from the 80's sitcom Family Ties: (my mother and I loved that show)  

Mallory Keaton: "Dad, where do you think Aunt Joyce is now?

Her Dad hesitates a moment as he looks down, and then back up.

Steven Keaton: "Someplace... green..."

Somehow, I have always sensed THAT as a closer truth than all of the religions or philosophies of man can explain. 

Peace to you all. 

Joel-Anthony Gray

Dear Joyce,

I didn't know you, but I know that you must have been a wonderful person. I've known your son Don for many years and that he admired, talked highly and loved you very much. I can only assume you both were very close and had a spiritual connection. I saw right from the start that Don has this "code of ethics and direction" to do the right thing, he may have gotten that from you.

I am sure Don will see signs from time to time, and he'll know you are still there watching over your family. May God Bless you and your family and they find strength in knowing you are at peace.

I will see ya on a star or tip toeing along the lawn, lounging on a cloud with legs crossed reading a book or thinking of a joke...I know you are fine...as always when I hang up the phone, I say, Love Ya Kiddo, talk later...

Good-bye Joyce,    Thank you for being my friend.  Your friendship was a special gift that I will always treasure.  It was generously given and happily received. You are forever in my heart.    LOVE AND SYMPATHY to the Peterson Clan.       Carol Anderson


 It's a pretty difficult task to summarize someone's life, to take the totality of a person and condense it into a few short paragraphs.


 

   Yes, it's difficult to do that, even for the average person, but it's near impossible to summarize the boundless spirit of our Mother, Jo Peterson.

 

   You could look back on the jobs and careers, Mom had over her life, but it was the relationships she created that best reflect who she was/Is.

 

   Mother-Sister-Gramma-Great Gramma-Auntie & Mother-in-law....she drew us all in and shared her unconditional love with us.


 

   Mom had countless friends, friends of all generations, stretching from Minnesota, to Wisconsin, Kansas, Texas, Iowa, California, Kentucky, and Arizona. Often, our friends became her friends, from every place she lived or spent time, Mom allowed herself to listen, to just about anyone, to listen without judgement, letting you know you were welcomed and valued. Even up to the very end of her life, Mom was still bringing people into her circle, drawing in her hospice caregivers. 


 

   To know her was to WANT!!!,  to be a part of her life.

 

   She made it easy, to be a part of her life! Moms door was always open, all were welcome, and if it was dinner time there was always another chair, and enough food for any one stopping in. There was always enough..........more than enough. 

 

   Mom was a tiny women but had the biggest heart. And, proud of her Italian heritage, she was one feisty spitfire. She lived to talk, laugh, and celebrate! Mom loved to cook and even more, relished everyone eating together. She could make a big meal out of very little. She didn't have much, but could make more that enough out of what she had.

 

   She was spontaneously creative. Whether it was from helping to turn the livingroom into a fort, creating clever costumes for the kids, engaging their imaginations, as well as her own, she pulled fun out of thin air!

 

   On her own, with 6 kids, 3 under the age of 7, with all her faith in her creator, and with her faith in herself, Mom found enough of what was needed to grow her family into adulthood. Each of the kids growing into unique people that she was truly proud of. She protected each of those kids, through the years to a fault. And they gave her lots of opportunites!! And though the houses she had over the years may not have been "all that much".....it's like the Dylan song, The ballad of Judas Priest, "What kind of house is this?", he said "where I have come to roam?, "It's not a house", said Judas Priest, "It's not a house,   "It's a HOME!"....

 



   A home filled with books, (Mom was an avid reader, especially of mysteries); collectibles (EVERYWHERE); she very much enjoyed her large dollhouses and miniature things she collected, and arranged, (and rearranged), that went with them! She always had jigsaw puzzles in progress, she loved doing her crosswords, and EVERY room had multiple types of musical devices: radios, cd players, dvd players, music boxes, VCRs, cassette decks, phonographs, Mom couldn't get enough music, of every variety.....She was shy about her singing......but if you listen carefully.......

 

   So..., to try to get back to the task at hand, how DO you summarize someone's life......especially some little Italian gal who has left, a much, much, bigger imprint on our hearts then she ever realized. One word that does come to mind is... Joyce Joann Lombardi, Morrison, Peterson was..., Resilient!!!.... From her hard scrabble family of origin; to a young Mother, alone, with  6 kids, from dealing with overwhelming pain, that lead to having her back rebuilt, and then a hip replacement; to battling cancer, with great dignity, for over 10 years....Mom kept bouncing back, her Spirit just as Strong as Ever. "Oh I'm Fine", enough about me, how are you doing? The Light, the Good, and Postive,.... still bubbling from her.





 

   We grieve now, because the cancer took over Moms body, but.... if you were a part of her life, even in grief, you can look into your heart and still hear her laughter, and see her light......Shining!!!

 

   Heaven is rejoicing that one more dear soul has returned. She has joined that communion of Saints that will guide US, on our journeys, until that day,....when each of us will join her in glory.

  



        Now she IS, saying, "I really AM fine.........

I'm so sorry and surprised to hear of Joyce's passing.  
I just saw cousin Joyce at Vitto's funeral and she seemed so well and happy.
I always loved her great smile and joyful spirit.  I had always wished that we could of seen more of her and your family. She was such an interesting and loving person.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Love,
John and Mary Jo O'Malley  (Capocasa)
Stillwater, MN

Dear Ivy Jo, Michael, John, Don and Chris, Jerry and I are so sorry for your loss. Your mother was very special to us, to everyone.  She touched so many lives. We will miss her so much.  Bless you all for the love, care and compassion you honored your mother with.  She loved you all so very much.      Sandy Dion & Jerry Phillips

Good bye my beloved friend. My Arizona Jo.  I loved you well, and will carry you in my heart until we meet again...Sandy Dion

OBITUARIO

Joyce J Peterson

27 octubre, 1930 – 14 enero, 2013

Sunland Memorial Park, Mortuary & Cremation Center

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