January 20, 1937 – March 27, 2024
Delores Jean Joyner came into this world on January 20, 1937, and exited over 87 years later on March 27, 2024. If you were lucky enough to know her, you already understand the type of person she was. A real wildcat. Pretty sure God broke the mold when he made Grandma Jean. She was a survivalist in all aspects of life. A jetsetter. A St. Anthony’s trained nurse. A lifelong learner. A compassionate soul that loved her family, her neighbors, and especially her dogs. Death is a sad thing for many, but Grandma used to say, “throw a big party when I die. Celebrate my life, do not mourn my passing.”
Based on that, I want to share a story that might seem quite unbelievable to the average person.
About fifteen years ago, Jean decided to join the Israeli Defense Force as a volunteer. She received a sponsorship by a New York Rabbi she met while volunteering for the Red Cross in the aftermath of 9/11. She was granted “Friends of the IDF” status and spent two weeks peeling potatoes for IDF soldiers. She even had her own uniform. You may wonder why she did this and the simple answer is life is worth living. She had a roundtrip ticket to Israel that allowed her to tour the country after her “mandatory service.”
It was all about the experience for her. From the dampness of Bourbon Street in New Orleans to the frigid temperatures of Barrow, Alaska, Jean Joyner wanted to see it all. Days before her death, she was still planning her next trip. She recently even said, “Take me to New Mexico kids … I want to see those open skies and say hello to all of my old friends.” The final destination for Grandma is undoubtedly heaven, but I am sure she will try to take the backroads to get there. The adventure was not just about the destination, but how she got there. Jean is preceded in death by her parents and one brother. She is survived in death by her sister, Mary Oliver, son, Mike Joyner, and loving daughter, Terri Wrigley … and don’t forget her favorite grandson Chris and the rest of the grandchildren and great grandchildren she cherished until her last breath. Today is a sad day because we no longer have the person we all love, but it is a day filled with the happiness of a life well lived. Not everyone can say that.
