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From:
Judie Larson
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Monday, February 1, 2021
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From Mark Larson:
Joy was an incredible and special human being. She was one of the most social people I have ever met. She just loved being around other people, and other people loved being around her. She came from a wonderful, loving family, and also made friends very easily. Whenever any of her kids brought any friends into the house, they were immediately treated as family. She loved to talk, she loved to laugh, she loved to play games, do puzzles, cook, bake, can, sew, knit, make dolls, quilt, party, dance, all with other people around. Because she was such a special person, other people loved to be around her and do these activities, and even more, whenever they had a chance.
Growing up with her, in Santa Clara, I can’t remember a single day going by, that a friend or family member didn’t come by to visit, or we went over to their place, or she at least had a lengthy phone call with someone. Those phone calls, by the way, were usually in the evening when the tolls were cheaper. Those of you from my generation will understand that.
I remember when Mom and Dad decided to leave their home of many years in Santa Clara to move to Vacaville. Many of us were concerned that she was moving so far away from her friends - how could she survive? In no time, she joined a quilting club and had a new group of friends. Joy even kept an extra refrigerator in her garage fully stocked with assorted beverages - mostly ones that neither her or my dad drank - just so she always had something to offer to whoever showed up.
Joy loved all people, but there was one special group of people she loved more than others, and that was babies. So much so, that she had 7 of us over a 10 year period. I can’t imagine anyone ever had a more loving, caring, devoted, protective, teaching, fair, or resourceful mother. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without her in it, and I would like to believe that everyone here, and everyone she ever came into contact with, had a better life just by knowing her. Once her children grew up, Mom always looked forward to the first time she got to hold each of her grandchildren, and then great grandchildren. She was always at her happiest when holding one of them and you could tell she loved all babies.
One of the things that made Mom so awesome is how she went about raising 7 kids. I look back in amazement at what she was able to accomplish. I always felt we were a typical middle class family. We never went hungry, always had clothes, always had some form of entertainment, and almost always were happy. Occasionally, I got in trouble. Sometime around the sixth grade we jumped up to upper middle class. That’s when we got our first color tv. A few years later, we solidified our place in the upper middle class when we were the first family on the block to own an actual video game in their home. That’s right, we had a Pong game.
The point I am trying to make is, we were probably not as well off financially as we were led to believe. Mom just knew how to stretch a dollar, and make sure everyone had what they needed. There were never any premade meals. Everything was made from scratch, or close to it, and because of this we ate better than most. Mom was also determined to teach all of her children life skills, even from an early age. We had rotating chores where everyone took turns cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, ironing, yard work, bringing Dad a cup of coffee to bed to wake him up, and many others.
I can still remember when I was 4 years old. Mom was in the middle of giving my 2 year old brother Mike a bath because I believe he had gotten sick. I was left to watch my baby sister Theresa, who decided this was the time to poop her diaper. I ran to my mother to tell her about this emergency and she told me that I was going to have to change it then. My response was I can’t do that. Mom’s reply was of course you can. You have seen me do it hundreds of times. For the younger generations... there was no such thing as paper diapers. We didn’t even have pre-folded diapers. Diapers were a big sheet of cloth, bigger than I was, that you had to double and fold a specific way and then attach to the baby's bottom with these big safety pins called diaper pins. Mom started by having me come to her with the diapers, and talked me through folding them. Then sent me off with explicit instructions on how to finish the task. You know what.. I did it! I’m not sure how long the diaper was able to stay on, but it was on. The biggest lesson I learned from this experience was to never tell Mom that I can’t do it.
Some of my fondest remembrances growing up was how Mom had us all pitch in to get a job done. One of these chores was making apple pies. Because we had such a large family, and frequently had friends and/or family over for dinner when we made pies, we made a lot of them. Mom would buy a whole case of apples from Joe, the produce man. Joe had a flatbed truck with a wooden cover filled with produce, and would come around our neighborhood once a week selling his wares at a discount rate. I’m pretty sure we were one of his best customers. We would all fill the kitchen, under Mom’s supervision, and everyone had at least one job to do. Mom had at least 6 potato peelers, so most of us would start peeling apples. Usually Margie and Mom would start making the dough for the crust. Margie made the best crust, but I am pretty sure we all took a shot at it. As the peeled apples started to build up, one of us would break away and start coring them. As the cored apples built up, someone would break away and start slicing them. I’m not sure of this part, but I think they had lemon juice in them, so someone would break away and squeeze lemons. Then someone would move over to mixing the sliced apples with sugar and cinnamon. Then the apples would go into the pie where butter, or more likely margarine, was added. Then we would cover with the top crust… and into the oven they would go. These were the best pies I have ever eaten. The big thing I left out was that the whole time all this work was going on we were all talking, and laughing, and just enjoying each other's company. This wasn’t work, it was a family event. This wasn’t a one time thing. We made pies many times, along with canning, making pickles, decorating Christmas trees, and preparing for parties. All was done together as a family. Mom was definitely the driving force behind this.
Mom, I miss you, I love you, and I am so glad you were a big part of my life.
Mark
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From:
Tim Parodi
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Friday, January 29, 2021
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Dear Diana, Mark, Margie, Lucy, Mike, Teresa, and Marty,
I was very sorry to hear about Aunt Joy. She held a special spot in my heart. Aunt Joy was a great party planner and I always enjoyed the parties. I remember the last time I visited with her and uncle Jerry. It was a very nice visit. Always so welcoming. i have Lots of good memories from when I was a kid and especially remember when Aunt Joy and Uncle Jerry took me to Ricky’s Hyatt house to listen to banjo music, encouraging me to buy my own banjo, which I never learned to play. I will continue to think about you all and your mom and dad often. So sorry for your loss. Love Tim and Susan
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From:
Michael Larson
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Wednesday, January 27, 2021
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The family of Joyce D. Larson invites you to join us in praying the Rosary in her honor.
Jan 30, 2021 01:00 PM Pacific time
Please contact us a RosaryforJoy@gmail.com for more information.
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Recent Candles
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Michael Larson
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Will always have the best memories of every visit we took up there
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I love you Grandma.
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Judie Larson
1/21/2021 at 10:13 PM
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Candle Lit By
Judie Larson
Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 10:13 PM
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Joy, your light still shines in all the people you have loved... and there are many of us!!
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Matthew Larson
1/21/2021 at 8:11 PM
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Never Gone
1/20/2021 at 9:23 PM
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Judie
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