Joycene Ryan, age 69, of East Bethel died June 2, 2015 at Unity Hospital in Fridley. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, June 8th at St. Patricks Catholic Church in Oak Grove with gathering time 1 hour before the service. There will also be a visitation on Sunday, June 7th, from 3 – 6 P.M. at our Isanti Chapel.
Joycene died June 2, 2015 after fiercely battling lung cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Isabell Maroney and brother, Robert Maroney.
She is survived by husband, Patrick; daughter, Dawn Violette; sons, Dan Ryan and John Ryan; grandchildren, Samuel Violette, Caity-Shea Violette and Jessica Ryan; siblings, Thomas Maroney (Estella), Patricia Zins (Gene Leiner), Kelli Maroney; mother-in-law, Bernice Huppert, as well as many other family members and friends who will miss her dearly.
Joycene worked as a chemical dependency counselor and family therapist in private practice for 37 years helping thousands of people to reach their highest potential. She was a passionate advocate for those in need within the addiction community throughout her life and career. As a long time member of MAARCH and chair of their ethics committee, she was delighted to receive their highest honor the Bernie Belling Ethics Award in 2014. She was a devoted single parent for many years managing to fill the roles of mother, father and best friend to her eternally grateful daughter. She met and married the love of her life, Patrick, and shared 12 beautiful years full of happiness and adventure with him before cancer cut their time short. Joycene was an eternally joyful and hopeful person. To honor and celebrate the spirit of strength and joy with which she lived her life, we ask that those joining us, who are so inclined, to wear bright colors, especially her favorite color, red.
Joycene brought so much happiness and support to our family through the years. We consider Joycene and Patrick an extension of our immediate family. We may never know if we are truly related by blood, (We even share the same last name) but we are related through friendship, and there is no better ‘relative’ than a great friend. We will miss her smiles and words of wisdom. We will miss visiting with her and talking about “life”. Words cannot express how precious she was and still is to us, we will carry her memory in our hearts forever.
We love and miss you
The Maroney Family
I never had the opportunity to meet Joycene but I know her daughter, Dawn, and her granddaughter Caity-Shea and from them know that she was a remarkable person and an amazing mother and grandmother. I know that she leaves a legacy of love and a fine example to follow. I will not be able to attend the service but will be there in spirit on June 8 and will wear red. To all the family I am deeply sorry for your loss, but also glad for you that she has left so much behind. You won´t be able to call her on the phone and that is so hard, but she will continue to be with you.
Condolences to Pat and Family from the St. Croix Valley Civil War Roundtable.