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Joyce Rath Obituary

Published by Richmond Times-Dispatch from Jan. 17 to Jan. 18, 2009.

RATH, Joyce AveilhÂ‚, died on January 10, 2009 at the Emeritus Assisted Living facility in Richmond, Va. She was born on November 8, 1914 in Corpus Christi, Texas, and lived most of her life in Northern Virginia. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Robert G. Rath. In later years, both resided in Chancellor's Village in Fredericksburg and Emeritus at Deep Run in Richmond. After her husband's retirement from the federal government, the couple traveled extensively and enjoyed spending time with their family, which included two daughters, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Throughout her life, Joyce enjoyed a love of flowers, which she shared through gardening and flower arranging. Joyce touched many lives with her humor, kindness, generosity and gentle spirit. Joyce Rath is survived by her daughters, Janet R. Hutchinson of Richmond and Nancy R. Crippen of Stafford; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Ostlind and her husband, Steve, of Houston, Texas, James Hutchinson Jr. and his wife, Erika, of Brooklyn, N.Y., Aaron Crippen and his wife, Hee Young Kim, of Augusta, Ga., Steven Hutchinson of Austin, Texas, Christian Crippen and his wife, Jenn, of Williamsburg, Elizabeth Hutchinson of Weissport, Pa., and Anna Gonsorcik of Stafford; and five great-grandchildren, Logan, Erik, Kyle, Christine and Arianna Lily. The Rath family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the generous, caring staff of Emeritus at Deep Run and Hospice Community Care, who cared for Joyce with love and respect during her final days. In lieu of flowers, please remember her with a donation to your favorite charity. Interment will be held on Saturday, January 24, at 1 p.m. at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.

This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

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Elizabeth Hutchinson

January 20, 2009

My grandmother, Joyce.
Her death came at the end of her very long life, struck painfully into the middle of mine.

She was at my beginning. She graced my growing.
She stood in the light, eyes unshaded, and pointed at winged seeds, birds, flowers, books, pictures, and me.

“Look,” she commanded, “Look,”
and from an apparent wealth displayed landscapes compounded of colored flowers, photographs and cousins.

She had no sweetness in her, only kindness. Beauty like her pansies and her marigolds, warmth that came from congo bars baking in the oven,
comfort that left your feathers ruffled.

My grandmother, Joyce.
This morning I sat
and a newly budded tree insisted upon my attention
and a bird “not much bigger than a thumb.”
And I listen, I listen so very hard, just to hear her say,
“Look.”