On August 10, 2008, Mary Joyce Glowczewsky Cavanaugh went home to Heaven to dance with her husband, Dale, and party with the Lord.

Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery. The Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Friends may call Monday, August 11, 2008 from 3-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home where the family will be present from 6-8:00 p.m. A rosary will be held at 3:30 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 7:00 p.m.

Joyce was born on December 27, 1919, in Makoti, North Dakota, the daughter of Leo S. and Grace (Gustafson) Glowczewsky. She rode the train to Iowa as a small girl, and it was in Storm Lake that she met and married the love of her life (Dale Cavanaugh) and raised her five children, Nancy (Bittner), Jan (Logan), Pat (Seiner), Tim Cavanaugh and Julie (Hofmeyer) on a cozy acreage north of town.

Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Joyce knew that she was kind and generous; loyal and honest; witty and sharp; a shoulder to lean on, and a barrel of fun. She was also a firecracker. She enjoyed card games, cooking and baking, nightly whiskey sours (three pointers), Ozzie Smith and the Cardinals, game shows, sports, crossword puzzles, storytelling, the Saint Mary’s Panthers, and above all, spending time with her family, which she treasured above all things. Joyce relished history and had wonderful stories to share about her youth, and her own parents, and living in California during World War II, and getting into mischief – but the greatest stories she told involved Dale – theirs was a true Hollywood romance.

Mom/Momma/Mamacita/Nana taught us many lessons to take with us on our own journeys, most of which she showed us just by example. Joyce was a devout Catholic who had daily chats with God and she raised a virtuous family - who loves each other above all things. The true testament to her good works.

It was always with a gentle hand and an open chair at the kitchen table that she made miracles happen. She was a light on the porch, a bucket on her head, ice cream under the table, playing pretend church, holding candles, button-button-who’s got the button, homebase, safe place, clean it up and cover for you, a bear hug just when you needed it, a listening ear, a quiet friend, a partner in crime, a worthy mentor, a friend to everyone she met, and a constant in all of our lives. When the whole world went out, she always came in. She made each of us truly believe we were her favorite.

Left to love her from a distance and cherish her memory are as follows: her sister and brother-in-law Franny and Don Carl, sister Lois Cerny, daughter and son-in-law Nancy and Ed Bittner, grandson Todd, his wife Chris, and their kids Olivia and Luke, grandson Jeff, his wife Joy, and their daughter Savannah, granddaughter Melissa, her husband Mike, and their kids Natalie, Abby and Ryan, granddaughter Traci, daughter Jan, daughter and son-in-law Pat and Denny Seiner, granddaughter Ellie, her husband Chad, and their son Joshua, granddaughter Anna and her husband, Drew, grandsons Mike and John, granddaughter Rachael, son and daughter-in-law Tim and Peg Cavanaugh, granddaughter Meghan, grandson Bailey, daughter and son-in-law Julie and Steve Hofmeyer, granddaughters Alison, Kristina and Jenna Lenz, many nieces and nephews, and a gaggle of lifelong friends.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dale, infant brother Leo, and infant grandson Charlie Cavanaugh.

The Cavanaughs are missing their leader, but Heaven has gained an angel.

And a hell of a dancer.

Here’s to ya, Mom. Thanks for everything, and love you always.

See ya next time.