Joyce Nelene Koslosky

Joyce Nelene Bernadette Love Koslosky IJoyce Koslosky was born in Bellingham, Wash. on August 20, 1933. She was released from her earthly shackles on November 20, 2016.Joyce, aptly christened Joy N. Love, was the second of four sisters born to Perry and Louise Love. The family moved from Bellingham to Seattle when she was 6 years old. At the age of 16, she was devastated by the loss of her mother.Shortly before her mother passed away she met a gangly young man, a cook in the Army, stationed nearby. She and Bernie were married when Joy was 17, and she gave birth to Julie at the tender age of 19. They settled in what would later become the city of Shoreline.Two years after Julie, along came Chuck, then Mardy the next year and Mike the year after that; four kids at the age of 24. Four more years down the line came Kathie. Joy returned to work in the mid-1960s at the Federal Reserve Bank, a career that she enjoyed until physical difficulties forced her retirement after 28 years. Joy worked a fulltime, mostly graveyard shift. After her shift, Joy would not go to bed and leave us to prepare for our day; she would get us where we needed to go, and then get her at-home chores done. Or shed go to school with us. Parochial schools, at least back in the 60s and 70s, relied heavily on volunteers. Joy often answered the call, playing the role of reading coach, lunch lady and even P.E. teacher to the students at St. Marks, where so many called her the name she was most proud of: Mom. She didnt catch up on her sleep on the weekend, either. She and Bernie went to virtually all of our sporting events and took us on outings many weekends. She would also volunteer, even doorbelling for United Good Neighbors or in opposition of Roe v. Wade.Also contributing to her lack of sleep, she missed very few midday episodes of Days of our Lives. No doubt, the advent of TV videotaping was very freeing for Joy. Joy loved music and belting out show tunes or songs she learned on Lawrence Welk. In her later years her hearing deteriorated, limiting her musical enjoyment. She also loved the U.S.A. and all things patriotic. She loved water, especially the ocean, and enjoyed the couple of times she went sailing. She was a fan of the Seattle Mariners; although she wouldnt attend any games at the stadium she said was forced down the taxpayers throats. Thats Mom.Joy was a goofball and was not afraid to tell an off-color joke or flip someone the bird just to watch the look on the recipients face (to which an exasperated Bernie would say, AWW JOY!). Joy had her first heart attack when she was in her late 40s. She battled heart disease and cancer for many years with a great deal of suss. She seemingly had nine lives, like a cat, but she worked hard at not only staying alive but living healthy. She was a walker, often encouraging her less-than-enthusiastic husband to accompany her. She gardened, played word and card games and created lovely needlepoints and hooked rugs. When her physical condition finally rendered her homebound, she was not pleased. She did not suffer this displeasure quietly.Did I mention that Joy was stubborn? A little ornery? Oh, yes she was! Joy was proud of her feisty Irish heritage and her strength. She was never afraid to speak her mind, whether it was toward an opposing sor coach who she felt was offensive or a school teacher who she believed wasnt giving her kid a fair shake. She was a little woman, but she was a force. Joy was happy and silly and upbeat, but never quite content. She always searched for a level of independence that would not be achieved in her lifetime.In the mid-eighties, Joy left Bernie for a new life, eventually purchasing a tri-plex in Seattle; she had always dreamed of city life. Bernie, although quieter than Joy, was also stubborn and followed her to the tri-plex. Eventually, they sold the tri-plex and moved back to the family home, remodeled it, and remained there for the rest of their lives, helping each other as they slowed down, griping all along the way. At the time of Bernies death, they had been married 64 years. Joy is survived by her sisters, Kathleen Cummins and Linda Staeger; her stepbrothers, Jack and Doug Fantl; her children, Julia (Roy) Briggs, Bernard Chuck Koslosky, Margaret Collins, Michael Koslosky and Kathryn Savelesky; her grandchildren, Sarah, Rebecca, Roy, Caryn, Robert, Marguerite, Benjamin, Kristen, Jacqueline, Emily, Aaron, Stephanie and Nicholas, as well as seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Bernard; her parents, Perry and Louise Love; sisters, Vivian and Doris and an infant grandson, Joshua. Joys legacy of fierce pride and unconditional love continues in her children and theirs.A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Joys honor on November 29, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Marks Catholic Church, 18033 15 Pl. NE, Shoreline, Wash. Immediately following the service, there will be a recn at the church, and then interment at Holyrood Cemetery, 205 NE 205th St., Shoreline, class=apple-converted-space Wash.Joy was tired; it was time to go. Strong in her faith, she knew where she was headed when she left. We hope it feels like Mexico. We hope she got to drive.