Beloved grandmother, volunteer, Dodger fan, devout Catholic

“It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Joyce Elaine Sokolowski, of Montclair, on February 17, 2022 at the young age of 92 years,” wrote her family. “She will be lovingly remembered by her children, sons David, wife Gwen; Stan, wife KC; Paul, wife Robynne; daughter Connie Hinkle; stepdaughter Linda, husband Jim Bowen; daughters–in-law Libby and Deneece; eleven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; along with numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and very dear friends.”

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 63 years, Edward John; sons Robert and Steven; brother, Pete; and sisters Jean and Karen.

Joyce was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her mother nicknamed her “sparky” because of her unruly hair. She graduated with honors from Beatrice High School and attended Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa, where she met and married Edward.

Together with their young family they moved to Claremont in 1956. She was a very busy homemaker, raising their six children and cheering ever so enthusiastically from the sidelines at the endless sporting activities in which they and her grandchildren participated; she almost never missed a game.

In later years, she worked in the banking industry. She was a Dodger fan through and through, and enjoyed sewing and reading in her free time. But her favorite was spending time with grandchildren and supporting their sporting events and activities.

She enjoyed participating with the Claremont Woman’s Golf Club for many years, and her bridge club group on a weekly basis. She had a servant’s heart and volunteered in many ways in the community and her church, such as at The Economy Shop in the Claremont Village, with all proceeds benefitting numerous local charities, and delivering Meals on Wheels for years.

She was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church and was active in the parish leadership council, the Fellowship of Catholic Christian Women, a catechist in the Christian initiation program, a pastoral care minister to the sick and homebound, a hospitality minister, was one of founders of the church WOW group, widows or widowers, and was always supportive of all the OLA parish major events.

“She will forever be remembered for her kind, loving, and giving heart,” her family shared. “Her warm smile and welcoming hug will be missed by all that knew her, and she will forever be in our hearts.”

A funeral mass celebration of life will be held at noon Saturday, March 26 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 435 N. Berkley Ave., Claremont 91711.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joyce Sokolowski’s name to Alzheimer’s Disease Research at https://www.brightfocus.org, or by check to 22512 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950; to the ASCPA at https://www.aspca.org/ways-to-give; or to a charity near and dear to you in her name.