Joyce A. Gorman

Joyce (Wuest) Gorman was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1935, the oldest of three children, to Joseph and Bess Wuest. Growing up, Joyce had an interest in music and dancing. Her love of these hobbies continued throughout her life.

As a young woman, Joyce dreamed of being a wife and mother. Her wish was fulfilled when her oldest child, Jenny, was born a few weeks before her first wedding anniversary. Three more children, Gale, Andy & Kelly, followed in quick succession. Her fifth child, Bridget was born after the family moved to San Diego, California in 1965. In 1978, Joyce, Kelly & Bridget moved to Yokosuka, Japan to join her husband working for the Department of Defense. Joyce relished her new surroundings and spent weekends on the train sightseeing, eating exotic foods, and meeting the wonderful people of Japan.

When the family returned to San Diego, Joyce purchased her first horse, Drifter. Joyce rode Drifter several times a week and enjoyed being an active member of the San Vicente Saddle Club. She was awarded with honors for her participation as a hostess in the Saddle club's progressive turkey trots.

With her children growing up and moving on, Joyce entered the workforce. She worked a variety of office and clerical jobs before landing a job as administrative assistant at the San Diego Museum of Art. She embraced the world of art and quickly filled her head with knowledge of famous artists and their works. She was respected and loved by staff, volunteers, board members, docents and donors at the museum.

Joyce moved to La Mesa to be nearer to her children and grandchildren - the true loves of her life. She was also very active with many friends that she has made over the years. She has so many friends from her social activities such as fellow choir members at St. John of the Cross, choir members with The Brothers of the Little Oratory, her dance friends and partners from the Balboa Park dancers, the Hawaiian dance group, the folk dance group, her international lunch group and those from prior clubs that she still maintained great friendships with and held her annual St. Patricks Day party.

Joyce enjoyed travelling. She had an avid curiosity and loved learning about new places and cultures. In addition to several cross-country road trips and a trip up the California coast, Joyce travelled to Ireland, Japan, the Philippines, Eastern Europe and China.

Joyce enjoyed saying she was in double digits after she recently celebrated her 77th birthday. She often saw each of her children and had wonderful visits with them. She had a luncheon with her Hawaiian Dance friends at her house the day before she passed, swam with her grandchildren, completed a photo book to share with others and went to a potluck with her choir friends. She lived life to the fullest and she passed peacefully in her sleep. Today she is singing in God's choir.

Joyce is survived by her sister Connie Lillis and brother Joe Wuest of Kentucky; children, Jennifer (Gorman) & John Mendoza, Gale Gorman, George "Andy" & Debbie Gorman, Kelly Gorman and Bridget (Gorman) & Wayne Young, all of San Diego; grandchildren, Noah & Spencer Bongard, Michael Imes, Teresa & Zachry Gorman, and Jonah, Alec & Emily Young; and great-grandchildren, Rene, Aubrey & Jezlyn Ponce, Valentina Imes, Savannah, Jaxon & Cooper Bongard, and Zoey Gorman.

Services will be held on August 30, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at her parish, St. John of the Cross Catholic Church 8086 Broadway in Lemon Grove with a reception immediately following. She will be intered at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Joyce carried "The Irish Journey Blessing" in her wallet.

"May the road rise up to meet you, the wind be always at your back and may God keep you in the palm of his hand until we meet again"