Joyce Schoenberger

Joyce Holland Schoenberger, 97, passed away Friday, June 9, 2017 from colon cancer. She fought long, hard, and dignified until the end.
Coming of age during the Depression she was a strong willed fighter with a stubborn streak, never giving up easy. She used these two assets to lead a full long life. As a stay at home mom who raised four children while being a day trader at the Chicago stock exchange and later in life at the Hancock Bank Exchange with lunch at the Great Southern Club. She was an avid duplicate bridge player with master points. She traveled Cunnard Cruise Lines so many times they issued her a special VIP Gold card. A daily communicant at St. Paul's, and breakfast with her girlfriends to solve the world's problems. She was actively involved with Pass Christian Yacht Club and hostess of can't miss social events. Joyce was a generous, loving, undominated, always thankful and readily admitting error.
She lived life best she could, even though there were setbacks. Did the family really have to leave Covington, to go up north to yankeeland for cryin-out-loud, after her husband's job of supervising the building the Causeway ended? Would her younger son make it home from Vietnam? It was never in her plans to be a widow. Why did her eldest son have to pass away so soon? What would happen to her after Katrina? What is wrong with me? Why don't I feel better?
Joyce relocated to Memphis after Katrina. She longed to return to the Coast, to Pass Christian where she had lived for over 30 years. But only came to visit once or twice. Being a refugee, she never really settled into life in Memphis, even though that was her address. Now she is back, but will never again enjoy the evening breeze off the Gulf, sipping her evening beverage, while sitting on her screened porch of her East Beach home.
Let her be remembered as someone who enjoyed life, and who celebrated it. Let us celebrate too, and enjoy our lives because we were lucky enough to have her be part of ours. Grandma Joyce, you will be missed.
She was preceded in death by Pope, her husband of 41 years; her eldest son, Ripley; and her sisters, Botchie Rachels and Jenny Estep.
She is survived by her children, Sally Harrison and Holly Osman, both from California, and Chris Schoenberger and his wife Candi, from Memphis; her eight grandchildren; her nine great-grandchildren; her nephew Bill Rachaels and his wife Betty; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers please send memorial contributions, in her name, to West Tennessee Veterans Home, P. O. Box #655, Cordova, TN 38088.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 17, 2017, at St. Paul Chapel, Pass Christian. Visitation will be held 30 minutes prior to mass. RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport is serving the family.
Memories may be shared with the family at www.riemannfamily.com.