Joyce A. Lee

Our dearest confidante, angel, mama, grandma, great-grandma, sister, aunty and friend, Joyce Lee, passed from this realm to the next, loved into heaven by her cherished husband, Bob, and beloved son, Jimmy.

She will be sorely missed by her daughters and sons-in-law and their children. Liz Flaherty (James, Erin & Mitchell, and the sweet great-grands, Monica, Madison and Luna); Linda (Michael) Sand (Louis & Nina, Nathaniel, Abram); Trish (David) Cameron (Sam & Taylor, Elliot, Anne, Nick). She is survived by her dear brother Fibber Henderson and many beloved nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Her loving mother Ruth and father Leo, brothers, Bob, Pug and Ron, sisters-in-law Ruby and Joanie, brother-in law, Alvin, beloved son-in-law, Terry Flaherty, and oodles of friends and relatives were also at the pearly gates welcoming her home. And she recently welcomed her adored sister, Leat.

Joyce Ann Henderson arrived in the world June 19, 1932, born into a page right out of the book “Angela’s Ashes.” But through love and grit the family managed to rise from those ashes and become what can only be called the good and decent backbone of America. Joyce and Bob were pillars of St. Francis de Sales church in Moorhead and volunteered in every capacity known to man (and woman!). Joyce also volunteered for civic organizations and worked part-time as an aide on the special needs bus. Decades later many of those students, as adults, would run to give her a hug when they saw her. Joyce and Bob attended every event their children and grandchildren ever participated in, Joyce always bringing a gift, a hug and a card. And you knew the card was from her because all the good words were underlined multiple times. Words like So proud of you, Great job, Love you always. Joyce loved to pray, shop, read the newspaper, “coffee” with friends, and take an occasional trip with her sister and friends to—as Dad would put it—“donate” to the slot machines. But mostly she loved spending time with her family. She and Bob endured the anguish of ushering Liz, then 18 years old, through leukemia and losing their son, Jimmy, at age 29, an innocent victim of gun violence. Joyce transmuted this agony into mercy. Then love. Then grace. Anyone who met her, adored her. Mom had a wonderful life because she was wonderful.

If you feel compelled to give in Mom’s memory, give to CCRI or items to the Second Chance Thrift Store in Moorhead or have a coffee at Charlie’s Place in Fargo. Or simply buy yourself a bouquet of daisies (Mom’s favorite), brew yourself a coffee (piping hot!) and contemplate a world where everyone, no matter what they look like, who they love, what their creed, has someone in their life who underlines all the good words for them. A world where guns are turned into plowshares and those plowshares are used to make ingredients for nice little lemon bars you can share with a friend. Mom would love that. It would do an honor to her joys, her sorrows, and her memory. And don’t be surprised if you see us at the cemetery on a sunny day, spread out on a blanket, “coffee-ing” with our mama. After all, there’ll always be so much to catch her up on until we meet again.

The family would like to deeply thank the CNA’s and floor nurses at Eventide in Fargo, who had the loving care of angels on earth. And her blessed and loved Eventide community in Moorhead. A memorial service will be held for Joyce on June 19th which would have been her 93rd birthday~11:00 a.m. at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m.