Joy Ann Whitten

I worked with for a short time at Blackmer,we were talking one day as we would share candy and she found out that I was interested in rocks well... Guess what ,she invited me to her dad's house and she gave me a lot of really cool rocks and stones of all types and some prized opals from out west. Joy was a Very Kind Lady RIP🙏🙏💐

- Terry Matvichuk

Joy was the best neighbor that I have ever had on both sides of the fence. I can only hope the new neighbor is a fraction of the sweetness that dear Joy was. I will miss her. And I hope she is resting, well.

- Cliff Tompkins

I worked with Joy at Blackmer for many years. I stopped at her desk most mornings, just to say hi and chat. She had the best laugh!! May she Rest In Peace.

- Mary Hummel

A FEW REFLECTIONS ON JOY ANN   I’m Joy’s cousin Michele.  Joy and Marty were the Kuzmicz cousins closest in age to me.  I just wanted to share a few memories and thoughts about Joy.  We all know how brave, strong and fiercely independent Joy is and she always has been.  When I was a kid I was the opposite of Joy: quiet, introverted and afraid of absolutely everything.  She would give me the look (you know the one) and always said ”Come on Michele, It will be fun!” and off we’d go!  She seemed to be involved in most of the “firsts” in my early life.  She and Marty were along in my first trip away from home and my Mom to Mackinaw.  I don’t know how many times we sang Don Ho’s “Tiny Bubbles” but as I recall the adults had to stop for a real drink just to get us to stop singing that day.  She made me sleep outside in the tent all night.  I was petrified and sure someone would come in and murder us in our sleep. I was with her when I crossed 28th Street for the first time without parental advice or consent. I don’t think she ever talked me into jumping off the raft at Lamar Park but I considered it .She arranged for my first kiss up somewhere staying with Sandy on a lake from some boy who smelled like beer.  She convinced me to invite my whole 7th grade class of girls to a birthday party upstairs in that small apartment on McReynolds.  Then she made sure we invited Marty and the kid Tom Alberts across the alley so we’d have someone to dance with.  She took me to my first concert, Seals and Croft and engineered my first blind date with the butcher.  “It will be fun Michele” and it was!  One weekend, Joy and Marty stayed downstairs at my grandparents all weekend during the winter.  We must have played every card game and board game ever invented non stop all weekend long.  After they went home Sunday night I remember feeling so lost and lonely because they were gone and it was so just so quiet……. 35 years came and went by so fast. In the recent dark days after my son died and my husband left me,  I was back to being  quiet, not wanting to leave the house and do anything at all  and Joy picked up right where she left off.  “Come on Michele, it will be fun!” My first hockey game, first wine tasting, first casino at 8:30 in the morning, first taste of a McDonalds breakfast sandwich which I at never tried because I was sure I’d hate it but as with most of Joy’s suggestions, I loved it.  Joy almost got me to sing Karaoke after that hockey game. I still hear her singing in my ear, loud, off key, wrong lyrics but with so much well…joy!  They tell us, we’ll be singing God’s praises up in heaven.  I can’t wait to hear Joy sing again in that heavenly chorus and before you know it. WE WILL! 

- Michele McCabe

Sure going to miss Joy and her love of life. Prayers are being said for her sons, siblings and other family members and friends who will miss her terribly. Thankfully we all have our memories to help us remember what a good and super lady she was. Love you Joy.

- Robin DeMario

Oh Joy Joy was always so fun to be around. Living in the best neighborhood meant you always had extra sisters like her and Sandy. Going to miss running into the two of you a craft shows.

- Mickey "Kaiser" Frens