Sunday, January 28, 2018

Joyce (Grant) Robson-Schiavo, BHS '48 (1930-2018)



We send our condolences to Joyce's family...

Joyce (Grant) Robson-Schiavo passed away peacefully on January 24, 2018, in Sonora, California at the age of 87, after a long illness. Joyce was born June 27 1930 in Dinuba, Tulare County, California. Her parents were William Robert Grant, Viena Terry Grant Christman and Stepfather Lyle Christman.

Her grandparents were Jennette Wilhite Terry and David Hines Terry, and William Jasper Grant and Della Madison Grant. All preceded her in death. In 1947 Joyce was a contestant in the Burbank on Parade May Queen Contest. She was referred to in her biography posted in the Burbank Daily Review as the “Laughing Eyed Burbank Lassie”. She spoke of what fun it was to ride around the city of Burbank in a wagon along with the other contestants for a day of publicity photo shoots with the local newspaper photographer. All the girls were wearing their best swimsuits! She always said that her favorite part of the contest was the Genuine Palmdayl Cigarette Shirt that each contestant received.

Joyce graduated from Burbank High School Class of 1948 and was a member of the Alumni. After high school she attended and graduated from California Air College with the dream of becoming an Air Traffic Controller. She was first married to James William Robson who is now deceased. She married Frank Schiavo on December 15, 1984. After 24 years together Frank passed away in 2008.

Joyce’s first job was as a telephone operator for the City of Glendale, California. She worked for a short time for Lockheed in Sunnyvale, California, then went to work for Dr. Dean H Hausrath, Orthodontist in San Jose, California. She worked as a Receptionist for Dr. Hausrath for 27 years.

Joyce had many years of membership-at-large with Beta Sigma Phi and was president of the Kappa Mu Chapter, Glendale, California in 1955. She had accumulated 9 years towards her Ritual of Jewels Degree, was eligible for the Exemplar Degree and was a Paid for Life Member.

Joyce was very involved in PTA for Toyon Elementary School, San Jose California in the mid 1960’s.

Joyce was a lifelong resident of California, residing in Dinuba, Glendale, Burbank and La Crescenta, before moving to San Jose, where she lived for 55 years. In 2013 she moved to Sonora, California to be closer to her family.

Joyce’s favorite hobbies were collecting dolls and musical stuffed animals, she loved Mickey and Minnie Mouse and would even dress up as some of her favorite characters such as Minnie Mouse, Miss Piggy or other fun costumes. She was always sending greeting cards to friends and loved ones. She spent hours decorating the cards with stickers and stamps. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandson and enjoyed meeting with her girlfriends for lunch. She made friends everywhere, and enjoyed making friends with the residents and staff at Skyline Place and The Avalon Care Center in Sonora.

She was always very happy when her granddogs Ricki and Stormy would come to visit. She was a lifelong dog lover.

She is survived by her daughters Teri Luna and husband Ray of Utah, Candi Huff and husband Harry of Jamestown, grandson Andrew and wife Lacee of Waterford, grandson Matthew and wife Rachael and son (Joyce’s 1st great grandchild) Henry of Sonora, granddaughter Miranda Huff of Jamestown, sister Janice Grossi of Nipomo, and niece Jill Oclaray of Colorado.

Funeral Home in charge of arrangements: Terzich and Wilson, Sonora, California.

In lieu of flowers we request donations be made to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P. O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 or online at https://www.michaeljfox.org

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