Joy Kirlin Stewart

Joy Kirlin Stewart, Our beautiful Joy left us Tuesday, June 30, 2025. As her sister, Donna said, “She denied cancer until the very end.” Because, after all, that’s the way Joyful Joy Kirlin Stewart lived her entire life… always on the “Sunny Side of the Street.”

Joy was born on October 23,1957 when the Kirlin family lived on Russell Street in North Philadelphia. She was the fifth of six kids and was born just sixteen months after Donna. They were called, “the Irish Twins” because they were so close in age. All of the kids were fascinated with Joy’s bright red hair, petite size and enormous appetite. A favorite family memory was Joy sitting in a high chair eating a big turkey drumstick. From the time she was a child until recently she loved to pile a plate full of food which she slowly ate while savoring every bite.

Joy married Jimmy Stewart and together they built a beautiful, loving family with son Jamie and daughter Courtney. And eventually with Courtney’s partner, Mario and their baby, Addy Aimee.

Joy loved her family deeply and she loved life to the fullest. She loved the Phillies and the Eagles. She would dress in team gear and sit in front of the TV screaming her head off. And she knew both games well. She loved her bicycle and going for rides. Joy loved the holidays with her family – especially Christmas and Halloween. Who will ever forget Joy as a grown woman sitting on Santa’s lap – not once but every time she wandered across a department store Santa. And for Halloween, you could count on Joy getting dressed to the nines as a witch. And Joy loved her time in Beach Haven at Long Beach Island. She loved going in the ocean, hanging on the beach, walking into town, going for a bike ride and savoring the incredibly sunset on the bay. But maybe what she loved most of all was enjoying some live music in a bar or a bandshell or at a concert and letting loose on the dance floor. Everyone loved to dance with Joy because she was such a great dancer – and you knew she was having so much fun. And Joy loved to ham it up, a natural comic, she loved to make people laugh. Her son, Jamie so enjoyed her sense of humor, saying she always, “cracked me up.”

Joy faced more than her share of health challenges over her lifetime, but she faced them all with grace, love and a positive outlook. We will never forget Joy and Jamie’s annual walk for a cure for epilepsy. Like everything else, she did it “Joyfully.” She never let her problems get her down. She would just direct her feet to the “Sunny Side of the Street.”

When Joy was battling cancer, she knew that she had the love and support of her entire family. Sister Donna lived with her and provided her with round the clock love and care for so long. Sister Eileen traveled to Florida regularly to help. Daughter Courtney called Joy every single day. And son, Jamie would fly from Philadelphia to South Florida every four to six weeks to spend time with his mother and help out. Courtney then took care of mother with Jimmy’s help at her house in Alabama providing love and care for the final two months of her life. Courtney and Jimmy were there with her, holding her hands as Joy peacefully let go of life.

We know that Joy was filled with the love her entire family had been sending her as well as the love she had for each of us. There was nothing like seeing Joy light up every time she was around Jamie and Courtney. She loved her kids so much and they loved her.

We are all so sad but we are also filled with love and gratitude for our family for all we were able to do for her over the past fourteen months and for all that Joy was able to do for all of us for a lifetime. She was well loved. Joy lived a life filled with joy and for that we are all thankful. Mom and Dad named her well.

And there’s no doubt that if any of us are ever feeling down, we will just think of Joy and her sunny disposition and brighten up. And there’s also no doubt that whenever any of us hear the word, “joy” or feel joyful, a smile will come to all our lips as we remember our Joy, and the joy she brought life every day.

Grab your coat and get your hat

Leave your worries on the doorstep

Life can be so sweet

On the sunny side of the street

Can't you hear the pitter-pat

And that happy tune is your step

Life can be complete

On the sunny side of the street

And if I never had a cent

I'd be rich as Rockefeller

With gold dust at my feet

On the sunny side of the street