Joyce Braathen Pendell

*** To watch a recording of the service, please use the link: https://youtu.be/QkZc4WQFzjo 

Joyce B. Pendell passed away on September 17, 2021 from complications of Parkinson's disease.

Joyce was born on January 31, 1941 in Devils Lake, North Dakota to Arne and Susanna Braathen. She grew up on the family farm in Starkweather, North Dakota. She graduated from High School in Starkweather and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College in Moorhead Minnesota and received a Master of Arts degree in Education from the State University of New York at New Paltz.

Joyce held a variety of teaching positions over the years, most recently at the New Paltz School District in New Paltz, New York where she worked with children with learning and reading disabilities. She was also a music teacher, giving private piano lessons at her home over the course of many years.

Joyce was an active member at the Community United Methodist Church in Poughkeepsie New York, serving at various times as a choir member, organist and as a volunteer at the church's second-hand store. She sang for many years with Capella Festiva, a local chamber choir which performed the great choral works of Mozart, Bach, Handel and many other well known composers. She was a lifelong competitive bridge player, competing in many tournaments throughout the years and eventually earning the rank of "Life Master."

Joyce will be remembered for her charm and wit, her sly sense of humor, her big smile, her big loving heart, her adventurous spirit, and the joyful presence she brought with her everywhere she went. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great- grandmother. She loved music and was active as a musician throughout her life. In the years since retiring from teaching she did volunteer work, played the organ for various church events, travelled extensively, did lots of gardening and played lots of bridge. Since 2011 she adopted the "snowbird" lifestyle, spending winters in Arizona and summers at her longtime home of Poughkeepsie, New York. She made friends everywhere she went and will be missed by her communities both in New York and Arizona.

Joyce is survived by her adoring sons Jonathan David Erikson, Georg (Barb) Erikson, and Thomas G. Pendell Jr., her two grandsons Matthew (Kaitlin) Erikson and A.J. Erikson and her great grandson Aidan Erikson. She is also survived by her beloved sister Marge (Thomas) Gabrielsen, sister-in-law, Doris Braathen, and her seven nieces and nephews Lisa (Jeff) Hoplin, Kathy (Marty) Syrstad, Timothy (Julie) Gabrielsen, Dean Braathen, Marla (Greg) Stegman, Gina Braathen and Aaron Braathen.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Arne and Susie Braathen and her brother Gene Braathen.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Bergen Lutheran Church in Starkweather, North Dakota on Monday, September 27, at 1:00 pm.  Visitation will be for the hour prior to the service in the church.  Interment will follow in Trinity Bergen Cemetery at Starkweather.