HEYWOOD JOAN BLASSINGAME "JOY" SEMBERA

HEYWOOD JOAN "JOY" BLASSINGAME SEMBERA, born August 13, 1918 in McAllen, Texas, passed away on November 16, 2009 in Marble Falls, Texas.Joy was preceded in death by her father, John William Blassingame and mother, Golda Lynn Smith Blassingame.Joy is survived by son, Donald Craig Sembera and his wife Jeanette of Austin, sonBenjamin Heywood Sembera of Boulder, Colorado, and son Andrew Burton Sembera and his wife Sharon of Spicewood, Texas. Grandchildren are Karen Heywood Sembera Hobart of Zurich, Switzerland, May Rio Sembera of Austin, and Andrew Ryan Sembera, and Elizabeth Claire Sembera, of Spicewood. Great-granddaughter is Elsa Heywood Hobart.She is also survived by sister Cherie Lynn Blassingame Archibald and brother JohnWilliam Blassingame, Jr. and his wife Betty and numerous nieces and nephews. Joy lived a wonderful life and left a durable impression on all that she knew. Joy spent most of her adult years in Houston, where she and a group of friends wereinstrumental in the opening of Central Church of Christ. She also devoted many hours of service to the Leukemia Society. One of Joy's proudest accomplishment involvedsingle-handedly raising three rambunctious boys.She retired as an Executive Secretary from Inwood Manor in 1991 after 25 years of service. She moved to Austin in her golden years to be near her children and grandchildren.The family would like to say "THANK YOU" to all the caregivers and friends at Northwood Retirement Center in Marble Falls. She will be missed by all who knew her sweet smile, bright blue eyes, unyielding positive attitude and her sense of caring.Visitation will be at Woodlawn Funeral Home on Friday,November 20, 2009 from 5-8:00pm. Services will be at 11:00am on Saturday, November 21, 2009 in Woodlawn Chapel, with interment to immediately follow at Woodlawn Garden of Memories.