Joy Dawn Blumenthal

Joy Dawn Blumenthal was born in Ladysmith, South Africa on September 14th, 1932 to Georgina and Richard Shuttleworth. She was the oldest child and had two sisters, Memory and Faith and two brothers, Erroll and Brian.

She attended school in Durban graduating with 7 distinctions. While in Durban, she met Clive Blumenthal who lived in Houghton, Johannesburg and was vacationing at the coast. After a few years they married and built a home in Bryanston, a suburb of Johannesburg.

They had two sons, Garth and Craig. Joy was very involved with the fashion industry owning Cramers Outfitters and ladies boutiques in Hyde Park, Rosebank and Sandton City. She was an inspirational mother instilling her values in her children whom she adored.

She always enjoyed gardening and particularly loved the variety of bird species. Almost every weekend, the family would spend time with Jack and Lilly her parents in law and would entertain guests from around the globe. This was not only interesting but also educational in that it exposed the children to different cultures and ethnicities. MAK Smith and Joe Ellis were close family friends and frequent visitors to her beautiful thatched roof home on Culross Road.

Joy moved to Corona Del Mar in 1994 to be closer to her oldest son, Garth and adjusted well to her new life free of South Africa’s political instability and related crime. Since she was retired she had more time to enjoy her passion for music like the Three Tenors, Bocelli, Sinatra and Edith Piaf. She was also an avid reader and very well informed about international and U.S politics. Joy never lost her love for the garden and truly personalized her home in sunny Southern California.

Joy had three grandchildren that she loved dearly, Ceri Leigh, Alexis and Garth Ryan. She spent countless hours with them sharing stories, playing games and generally guiding them.

She was a strong lady, intelligent, devoted to her family and friends around the world. She was the glue that kept the Blumenthals, Shuttleworths and Cutlers connected. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with COPD over a decade ago and this limited her physical activity. Nonetheless, she did adopt two animals, a dog she called Fred and a cat she named Lilly after her mother in law. They were her constant companions.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 14, 2013 at Pacific View Mortuary Chapel.