Joy Louise GILBERT

Joy Louise Gilbert, age 60 of Marquette, passed away peacefully after a short, but valiant battle with breast cancer at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility on June 22, 2015. Joy had resided at Sundara House until January 2015. Joy was born November 3, 1954 in Oak Park, IL to the late Msgt. (ret.) Charles and Toshi (Miagawa) Gilbert soon after her parents and brothers arrived from Kyushu, Japan where her father was stationed with the Air Force. Joy spent her early years in Oak Park and in 1960, her family moved to the newly opened K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base. In 1964 her family moved to Marquette where Joy attended Sandy Knoll School. There she made lifelong friends, many whom became residents of Sundara West along with Joy, when it opened in the late 1970's. Joy enjoyed living at Sundara House and all of the social activity. When she was away, she often wondered what the other residents were doing. After returning from family outings she would typically ask the other residents "what'd ya eat?" or "what'd ya do?" She also enjoyed participating in Special Olympics and through the years had picked up medals for swimming, snowshoeing, bowling and many other activities. Her quiet demeanor fooled many people: Joy was very observant and had an outstanding memory for people and places. She lived life with compassion, wit, and a little bit of sass. Joy loved to read books and she had a penchant for reading upside down, so no note was safe from her eagle eyes. Joy is survived by her mother, Toshi Gilbert of Green Bay, WI, her two brothers Yuji Asano and wife, Marlene Mueller of Green Bay, WI., John Gilbert and wife, Gretchen Waters of Saline, MI., and sister Charlene Gilbert and husband Edward Burns of Seabrook, TX., along with several nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews. A celebration of Joy's life will be held September 5, 2015, beginning at 5:30pm at the Presque Isle Pavilion. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Special Olympics or to the U.P. Children's Museum Yellow Brick Road fundraiser campaign in Joy's name. The family would like to express their appreciation to the Sundara House staff, the MCMCF staff, the Fresenius staff and the Marquette General Hospital staff for their extraordinary care of Joy through her illness and a special appreciation to the Sundara and Pathways staff for their commitment to Joy's well-being and quality of life through her lifetime . In particular, the family would like to offer their heartfelt gratitude to Joy's doctor Dr. Daniel Hardie, M.D. and friend and former Sundara House manager, Chris Martin for all of the care and love they had shown Joy through the years. She will be greatly missed by family and her many friends. The Canale-Tonella Funeral Home is assisting the family where memories may be shared at canalefuneral.com.