Joyce C. Saldana was born in Sartell to Clarence and Pearl (Doucette) Smitten Nov. 11, 1929. She passed away Dec. 17, 2023, at The Good Shepherd Community in Sauk Rapids. Joyce married Peter Saldana in San Francisco, California, in 1947. They lived in Sartell until 1963, and then moved to rural Sauk Rapids. After retirement, Peter and Joyce became snowbirds in Arizona. Joyce moved permanently to Tucson, Arizona, after Peter died in 1994. She returned to Minnesota in 2021 and moved to The Good Shepherd apartments in December 2022.
Joyce is survived by her children Michelle (Ray) Ratasky, Jeanne Reiter, Anne (Charles) Ogletree, Jonelle Saldana (Mike Konz), Peter Daniel Saldana (Shanda) and Nona (Brian) Ewell; son-in-law Dan Guemmer; grandchildren Jennifer, Mike, Michele, Marcia, Casey, LaDonna, Jared, Angela, Ben, Jocelyn, Myles, Brandon, Evan, Gianna and Luke; great- and great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends as well as her beloved cat Lily Buttons.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Peter; children Georgia Weyer, Christine Guemmer and Amy; son-in-laws William Reiter and Leonardo Weyer; her only sister Sue Galarneault; and grandson Mark Reiter.
Mom taught us many things over the years: a love of cooking, a love of animals, a fierce love of family and forgiveness, even if we didn’t always agree.
Mom enjoyed cooking, knitting, reading, coloring, RFD TV and snuggling with her cat.
Special thanks to Centra Care Hospice and the staff at Good Shepherd Sunny Lake.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, Jan. 26, at Annunciation Church in Mayhew Lake. Visitation at 10:30 a.m., Mass at 11:30 a.m. Inurnment immediately following Mass in the parish cemetery. Memorials preferred.
R-1-1P
