Joy M. Hawkins

Joy Marie Hawkins of Golden, Colorado passed away on March 20, 2024, surrounded by her family and friends, from pneumonia and complications from kidney disease. She is survived by her husband Jim, sons Michael and Robert, three sisters, two brothers, five nieces, two nephews and three grandchildren. 

Joy embraced the world on November 9th, 1942, the first-born daughter of Carl and Elda Francis. She was quite literally their pride and joy, as reflected in her given name. She was the second-generation descendant of Austrian-Italian immigrants from the Val di Non region nestled in the Alps of Trentino, Italy. The young family started out on their family farm in Arvada, CO, but soon after Joy’s birth, her father was drafted into the Army (WWII). So, the family relocated to Georgia while he completed basic training. When Carl was stationed abroad, Joy and her mother moved back to the farm in Arvada. During Carl’s deployment, Joy and her mom periodically stayed with relatives in Twin Falls, Idaho. Upon Carl’s discharge from the Service in 1946, the family moved into the home they had purchased in North Denver near Regis College.

Joy grew up in her North Denver home with her five younger siblings. She attended Berkeley Gardens Elementary School and then Holy Family High School, graduating in 1960. After graduation from high school, Joy enrolled in X-ray technology training school at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Denver where she received her certification in 1963. During her rotation in trauma imaging at Denver General Hospital (now Denver Health Medical), Joy met her husband-to-be, Jim Hawkins.

Joy married James (Jim) Howard Hawkins on May 11, 1963, at the Shrine of Saint Anne Roman Catholic Church in Arvada, Colorado. Joy worked as an X-ray technologist and Jim worked as a police officer in the Denver area. Their first son, Michael James, was born on February 27, 1964, in Denver. The young family moved to San Jose, California where Jim continued to work in law enforcement. Joy gave birth to their second son, Robert Thomas, on February 16, 1967, in Santa Clara, California. The family returned to Colorado in 1971, living briefly with her extended family at the Mother Cabrini Shrine overlooking Denver. Later that year, the Hawkins family purchased a home in Golden, Colorado. This was Joy’s home for the next 52 years and where she devoted her life to her kids and extended family as a mostly, stay-at-home mom.

Joy demonstrated her love for her kids and family in many ways, large and small. She revealed this devotion by always putting her own needs second. She was truly famous with the other children in the neighborhood as the mom who always had time to play a game, or even cook up quick snacks for the group. Her boys’ friends were always amazed at how she quickly made cookies, sandwiches, or even her famous Orange Julius, simply because she loved making kids happy. 

Joy centered her life around the love she felt for her family. She was available for every band event, every basketball game and was always a willing tutor for homework assignments. Joy even started long-distance running in her forties with one of her sons. She completed two half-Marathons, both races in the mountains of Colorado. 

Joy had planned to return to the workforce as her boys were leaving high school and entering college. However, an unexpected death in the family delayed her planned return to work for about ten years. Joy willingly became a part-time caretaker for her brother’s young daughters when they lost their own mom to cancer. Later in life, Joy reflected that she felt genuinely blessed to have played a small part in her nieces’ lives. 

Joy returned to work as an X-ray technologist in her late fifties at Lutheran Hospital. She became a specialist in mammography. After retirement from her career as an X-ray tech, she became a classroom volunteer in her late sixties. Over the course of 14 years, she served as a classroom aid with her sister Carol, in pre-K through second grade classrooms at three Denver area schools: Glennon Heights Elementary, Lasley Elementary, and Notre Dame School. She worked directly with students, assisting any who needed help with studies or just a little TLC. She was always kind and patient with even the most unsettled children. She was beloved by all her students as evidenced in the numerous sweet thank you notes she received from them. 

Throughout her life, Joy was a talented artist. She attended a variety of art classes over the years at Red Rocks Community College, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Center for the Arts Evergreen, and the internationally acclaimed Denver Botanic Gardens School of Botanical Art and Illustration. She was an Active Member of Arvada Fine Arts Guild from 2010 until the time of her passing. Joy displayed her beautiful artwork at various venues around the Denver Metro area.

Joy enjoyed her time with family and friends. After retirement, Joy and her sisters reconnected on a deeper level, spending hours together going on nature walks, taking art classes, and visiting museums and various art exhibitions around the Denver area. 

A generous and caring soul, Joy spent many an hour lovingly caring for her aging mother, helping her with daily needs, reading to her, and enjoying music together. Joy gave meaning and happiness to her mother’s life in her last two difficult years.

Joy truly embodied her namesake. She was a shining star and a guiding inspiration. She will be forever in our hearts and forever missed. 

A rosary and memorial mass for Joy will be held on Thursday April 18th at 9:00 AM at:

Mother Cabrini Shrine 

20189 U.S. Hwy 40

Golden, Co 80401

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a donation, one of Joy’s favorite places was the Denver Botanic Gardens:

https://www.botanicgardens.org/tribute-memorial-gifts