Mary Joyce Rotner's Obituary
Mary Joyce Rotner, known as “Joy” by her husband, was also known by many other names: Mom, Aunt Joy, and Granny Joy. She was the youngest of two children. Her father, Edwin Rumpf, was of German descent and born in St Louis. Her mother, Mary Joyce Scott, was born in the Cayman Islands. Her older brother, Edwin Rumpf Jr, was born in Galveston TX. All proceeded her in death. She was born November 9th,1928 in Mobile, Alabama. Joy was baptized into the Christian faith as a Southern Baptist at age 10. When she was a teenager the family relocated to a rural lifestyle in Irvington, Alabama just 25 minutes outside Mobile. This lifestyle proved to be better suited for Joy’s love of animals; she was always welcoming strays of all kinds home to eventually be adopted by the family.
Joy met the love of her life Mel, a pre-med student at Spring Hill College, while attending a USO dance in Mobile. Mel, Jewish, and Joy, Southern Baptist, both converted and became members of the Catholic Church. Shortly thereafter, in 1949, they were married in the chapel at Spring Hill College. After Mel’s graduation from medical school, the US Navy transferred the family to several locations across the country, ending a 30-year naval career in San Diego, California. The family laid down roots in Escondido in 1974.
From their humble roots Joy and Mel raised 9 children (7 boys and 2 girls). Their love of family bore 26 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren, and countless adopted animals over the years. Somehow, against all odds, she managed to keep them all fed and alive. Joy instilled in her children the value of owning their own homes and tried her best to help them achieve this goal. She taught her children many values; love for God, love of Country, love for one-another, managing a household, skimping when necessary, and how to work hard.
With the strength of their Catholic faith, Joy and Mel were active members of St Mary’s Catholic Church of Escondido since 1974. Over those years Joy served as a Lector. Both Mel and Joy were Eucharistic Ministers, leaders during Life in the Spirit seminars, as well as many years sponsoring couples for Marriage Encounter weekends. They were extremely involved in the Charismatic Movement and participated in healing masses in the Parish. Joy and Mel were married 67 years until Mel’s passing in 2016.
Throughout Joy’s life she was active in the ‘Arts’ and adored time in her garden. Although well known for her China painting ability, her artistic skills went far beyond to include canvas paintings using oils and acrylics. Joy was an active member of the San Diego and California China Painting Associations as well as the Municipal Gallery of Escondido. For a time, Joy owned and operated a ‘Doll’ shop, “House of Joy,” located in the historic Bernardo Winery. She enjoyed everything about dolls, researching their history, making repairs, sewing stuffed bears, creating clothing for antique dolls and bears. Later in life, Joy enjoyed painting flowers and roses on multiple surfaces, like tin containers, driftwood, rocks, scrap pieces of plywood, the kitchen cabinets and letter envelopes that were treasured by those who received letters from her. Her painted envelopes impressed many mail carriers over the years from all over the country. In fact, our mail carrier told us that when one of mom’s letters would arrive to be sorted for delivery at the local post office the employees would call to each other saying, “we have another one” and they would then gather to view her amazing work.
Joy journaled her entire life. Regularly she would make a list of items for which she was most thankful. Her Bible is a masterpiece of her comments written in the margins. There was not a blank piece of paper that was safe from her pen. Most often she could be heard lecturing on the virtues of having a grateful heart and would discourage focusing on anything else. Joy’s true pleasure in life came when gifting her lessons, talents and treasures to her children and grandchildren, treasures to last a lifetime.
Her legacy resides in all who knew her; Lessons learned, talents shared, advice given, and most importantly setting one’s priorities in life: Love of God, Love of Country, Love of Family, Love of animals, then everything else!
What’s your fondest memory of Joy?
What’s a lesson you learned from Joy?
Share a story where Joy's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Joy you’ll never forget.
How did Joy make you smile?