In Loving Memory

I never thought I would fall in love with someone at a funeral.
Let alone their own funeral.
But today, I realized that I love Joy Ruby Burmester Jewkes.
I have never cried so much at a funeral, and trust me, I have been to A LOT of funerals.

This woman is AMAZING!

I never had a chance to meet this classy lady before her death, not the way most people knew her. When I met her, her Dementia was in its worst stages. Even so, I do remember her sweet smile. According to her family, she always smiled. I felt that today was a great opportunity. I felt like today I was given the opportunity to really get to know her. I also felt that if she were still alive and well today that she would have loved me just as much as her other grandchildren-that's just the kind of person she was. The spirit at the funeral was so incredibly strong and I could honestly feel the love that everyone had for the people in that room and the love that she had for them. Everyone that talked described her as the most loving, cheerful, and charitable person they had ever met. Throughout her viewing people just poured into the doors for hours-that's how loved she was. They said that it must have been inspiration to give her the name Joy. I am so excited to get to meet her on the other side.

A sweet recent story about her that her husband told at the funeral:
Her sweet husband kissed her before bed each night for their entire marriage. She had dementia for ten years and every night she'd say she loved him back to him up until the last few months or so. Finally, it had been an entire month since she had said anything and he kissed her and said, "Joy, I love you, do you know that?" She said nothing. He tried again. "Do you know that I love you?" Finally, she replied in a whisper, "yes." That was the last thing he ever heard her say.

Here is her obituary so that you can also benefit from getting to know her a little bit:

Joy Jewkes
Joy Jewkes 1927 ~ 2009 Joy Ruby Burmester Jewkes, age 82, died August 17, 2009 at her home in West Jordan, Utah from complications of Dementia. She was born June 28, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Joy is the oldest child of Frederick Joachim Christian Burmester and Friede Josephine Barthel. She lived all of her life in West Jordan. She graduated from Jordan High School as the valedictorian of her class. She married Curtis Jewkes December 9,1946 in the Salt Lake City Temple. They were married for 63 years. They are the parents of 11 children, all are still living. Eight of them live in West Jordan: Bryan (Rolayne), Jordan, Susan Maxon, Annalee (James) Hunter, Jeffrey, Wendy Brady, Robert (Aimee), Morgan; Connie (Herb) Butterfield, Herriman, Mark, Los Angeles, CA and Blair, Cedar City; 37 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren. She is survived by sisters: Donna Williams, Downey, Idaho and Delores (Farnes) Egbert, St. George, UT; brother, Richard Burmester, Pocatello, ID. She was preceded in death by her parents. She helped her husband start, and operate their business, the M.C. Jewkes Co. Wholesale Office Supply, for 40 years. Joy constantly sustained her husband as a father, and in his many church responsibilities. She was always active in the LDS Church where she served as president of the Relief Society, Young Womens' and Primary. She also taught classes in each of these auxiliaries. Joy served four missions for the LDS Church. She and her husband, with another couple, were called by the Social Service Department of the church, to set up and establish, for the entire church, the LDS Substance Abuse Support and Recovery Program. They served two full time missions while doing this program. They also served as guides on Temple Square for five years. She served her proselytizing mission to the Navajo and Zuni Indians, in Gallup, New Mexico, at the same time her husband served in the Southern States Mission. This was after they had been married for five years. Joy was a stay at home mom. She nourished and taught her children, plus a few strays along the way, how to live a full and happy life in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She fixed three meals a day for her family. She was always good to her children, and welcomed any of their friends in her home. Joy was a good housekeeper. She said her home was clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be enjoyed. Her children and their friends often called her "Sugar". Joy was always a first class lady. A touch of class! She was beautiful in all respects. She loved everyone she met. She had no enemies and served others constantly. She was full of love, and energy. She was always ahead of most people, doing what was right at the right time. No matter what time anyone else got up to start the day, they would find her sitting by the heating vent reading her scriptures. The family would like to especially thank Debbie, Lisa, and Tonda, of Life Path Hospice Services, for the tender and loving care they gave to Joy and her family. Funeral services will be held Monday, August 24, 2009, 12:00 noon at the LDS Chapel, 7925 So. 2700 W., West Jordan, UT. Viewings will be held Sunday, August 23, 2009, 5-8 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 So. Redwood Rd. and Monday at the church, 10:30-11:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment, West Jordan City Cemetery.