Joyce Berentson

1937 - 2021

Mount Vernon - Helen Joyce Berentson was born in 1937, the only child of Gertrude and Harold Gonderman. She grew up in St. Maries, Idaho where many summers were spent with family and friends at the St. Joe River, Rocky Point, and Lake Coeur D'Alene.

Joyce followed in her mother's footsteps to become a nurse. She trained at Deaconess Hospital, School of Nursing in Spokane and graduated in 1958. Joyce came to Washington State to train at Northern State Hospital where she met and was married to Oliver Berentson from 1959-1980. Together they had two children, Cheryl Berentson-Felt and Brian E. Berentson.

Joyce was hired at Skagit Valley Hospital as an RN and found she enjoyed being an OB nurse. She worked in the family birth center for the majority of her 40+ year career helping birth and care for many babies and mothers. Joyce was proud of her training in neonatal care and was often remembered fondly be former patients. She retired from SVH in 1997.

Joyce enjoyed genealogy and did extensive research into her family background before the digital era. After her retirement, she took a trip of a lifetime to Sweden and met cousins she had corresponded with and saw places she researched. She passed on the traditions of Swedish pancakes and Krumkake and loved to make Christmas candy with her grandkids including "bumpy fudge".

Joyce enjoyed hiking and cross country skiing as well as photography. She made many a hiking trip with her group of hiking buddies and retired friends throughout the Cascades. Joyce was an avid reader and gardener. She enjoyed sewing and made each of her grandchildren a special quilt. Later in life, she was a member of Harmony Birthday Club and enjoyed the friendships she made there. Joyce enjoyed weekly bible study, liked a rousing game of Spite and Malice, and enjoyed playing Bunco with her friends and fellow residents at Mt. Glen Retirement Center.

Joyce enjoyed celebrating holidays and birthdays with her children and grandchildren. She believed in Jesus Christ as her Savior. She passed peacefully the morning of July 10th. Joyce is preceded in death by her son, Brian E. Berentson in 2009. She is survived by her daughter Cheryl (Chris) Felt, grandchildren Amy (Georgi) and Kevin; daughter-in-law, Marlaine Berentson, grandchildren Liberty (Joe), Tanya (Phil), Brian C., and Brooke as well as several great grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held July 24th, 2021, 11:00 a.m. at Hawthorne Funeral Home with a reception to follow at the Hawthorne Reception Room.

Memorials may be made in Joyce's name to Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation Family Birth Center.

Please share your thoughts of Joyce and sign the online guest register at www.hawthornefh.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, WA