Joan Elizabeth Salo

Please do not grieve and shed wild tears

And hug your sorrow to you through the years,

but start out bravely with a gallant smile;

And for my sake and in my name,

live on and do all things the same,

Feed not your loneliness, on empty days,

but fill each waking hour in useful ways,

And never, never be afraid to die,

for I am waiting for you in the sky!

Joan Elizabeth Salo was born November 12, 1932 Braddock, Pennsylvania to David Granny and Lillian Hardy Granny. Joan, was the youngest of 6 girls, one older brother, and 3 younger brothers. Joan and Andy met while Joan was 16 in 1948 and married in 1949. Joan and Andy moved to Seattle in 1955 with their two young sons, Jim and Andy Jr because he had an offer to work for Boeing. James was born in 1950, Andrew, Jr 1951, Katherine 1955, Michael 1957, Richard 1959, Donald 1960 and Teresa 1966. Joan had 7 children by the age of 33. After raising her own children, she began to babysit children for several years. In 1977 she started a job with Northwest Center as a phone solicitor and continued to work for them until the mid 90s. In 1993 a renewed passion was born, Courtney Centeno. Joan provided daycare for her until 1999. After Courtney began school full time, Joan began to slow down and began to enjoy her extended family. She enjoyed family visits and family holiday dinners. She was married to her husband Andy for 62 years until his passing in December 2011. After Andy's passing Joan began to deteriorate due to vascular disease. Joan is survived by her siblings, Margaret (Peggy) and David. Also, by her children, James (Anne), Andy, Jr (Donna), Katherine Ford (Kim), Michael (Tracy), Richard (Sherri), Don, and Teresa (Michael) Centeno. She is also survived by 40 grandchildren and great grandchildren. Joan was preceded in death by her parents David and Lillian; her siblings Frank, Carmel, Laura, Florence, Frances, James and Joel, Andy Senior, and their grandson Dominic.

We all miss her.

Only One Mother

Only one Mother, a lifetime through, though so many other things come by two. The rainbows, the starlight, the beautiful things, each new tomorrow, another one brings.

Plenty of roses and sunsets and such, green grass and blue skies that still mean so much. The sunshine of when Winter is through.

But only one Mother, God meant it this way, that she should be special and dearer each day. He took part of all in this world bright and real and made them a part of the Mother ideal. '

Do cherish this treasure, so precious and rare, for she has a heart and is willing to share. God's greatest creation, more deal than all others; All else comes in dozens, but only one mother.