Official Obituary of
Joy Christine Slaughter
May 26, 1966 ~ May 18, 2020 (age 53) 53 Years Old
Joy Slaughter Obituary
Our Precious JOY BELLS joined the heavenly choir at 2:53 pm ET, on Monday, May 18, 2020, near her beloved home of Melmark, in Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Joy Christine Slaughter was born on May 26, 1966 in Tehran, Iran to her parents, Joel and Sara Slaughter who served as Christian Missionaries in Iran. In that time and age, the Iranian doctor who delivered her told her parents to institutionalize her and move on with life...to escape the reality and responsibility of welcoming a special needs, Down Syndrome baby. By God's absolute grace, Joy, was a healthy and thriving baby girl and they took her home safely to meet her big brother, Richard and big sister Rhonda. She was a happy and adorable little baby and the name "JOY" truly fit the gift she was to her family. She was however a little handful growing up and regularly caused mischief around the house...including several escapes out the front door for a little exploration around the neighborhood. The family had to install 4 locks on the front door but she still managed to find away out ! During one of her successful escape attempts at age 3, she was found at a local reality office, sitting down and using their telephone... which she called a "talk-a-to"! There were no services or programs that would help Joy grow and develop in Iran, so at the age of 5, her mother Sara, flew Joy back to the united States to visit a beautiful home called Melmark in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, where she would grow, learn and thrive for the next 49 years. Melmark and the staff who have cared for Joy over the last 49 years have been absolute angels to our family and have givenb Joy purpose, community, friendship and the ability to lead a normal life she would not have been ableto in the era she was born in.
Joy loved to sing, she was part of the Melmark Bell Choir and was given the opportunity to play at the Whits House on two separate occasions.She also loved to participate in the twice yearly drama productions Melmark put on playing roles in "Sound of Music" and many more! She loved to prank our family with April Fool's jokes and had along- term crush on David Hasselhoff...who she lovingly referred to as "David half-n-Half". Our family loved yearly visits with Joy for a few weeks during Christmas and New Years and we have so many fond memories playing board games and going to the movies with her. Just this last Christmas we were able to take her to Disney on ice production and see Frozen II in theaters with her.
Joy has joined her loving parents, Joel William Slaughter and Sara Lee Slaughter, and her Brother Richard William Slaughter in her eternal resting place. She leaves behind her Sister Rhonda Remland and family. Husband Gary Remland, daughter Christi, husband Andrew and her great nieces London Joy, Georgia and Brooklyn.
To all of the Melmark staff, current and past, there are no words to properly thank you for the life you have given Joy and the love, comfort and care you have given day after day.
Joy Bells, we love and miss you very much...and Lord, THANK YOU for the gift of JOY!
Joy Christine Slaughter was born on May 26, 1966 in Tehran, Iran to her parents, Joel and Sara Slaughter who served as Christian Missionaries in Iran. In that time and age, the Iranian doctor who delivered her told her parents to institutionalize her and move on with life...to escape the reality and responsibility of welcoming a special needs, Down Syndrome baby. By God's absolute grace, Joy, was a healthy and thriving baby girl and they took her home safely to meet her big brother, Richard and big sister Rhonda. She was a happy and adorable little baby and the name "JOY" truly fit the gift she was to her family. She was however a little handful growing up and regularly caused mischief around the house...including several escapes out the front door for a little exploration around the neighborhood. The family had to install 4 locks on the front door but she still managed to find away out ! During one of her successful escape attempts at age 3, she was found at a local reality office, sitting down and using their telephone... which she called a "talk-a-to"! There were no services or programs that would help Joy grow and develop in Iran, so at the age of 5, her mother Sara, flew Joy back to the united States to visit a beautiful home called Melmark in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, where she would grow, learn and thrive for the next 49 years. Melmark and the staff who have cared for Joy over the last 49 years have been absolute angels to our family and have givenb Joy purpose, community, friendship and the ability to lead a normal life she would not have been ableto in the era she was born in.
Joy loved to sing, she was part of the Melmark Bell Choir and was given the opportunity to play at the Whits House on two separate occasions.She also loved to participate in the twice yearly drama productions Melmark put on playing roles in "Sound of Music" and many more! She loved to prank our family with April Fool's jokes and had along- term crush on David Hasselhoff...who she lovingly referred to as "David half-n-Half". Our family loved yearly visits with Joy for a few weeks during Christmas and New Years and we have so many fond memories playing board games and going to the movies with her. Just this last Christmas we were able to take her to Disney on ice production and see Frozen II in theaters with her.
Joy has joined her loving parents, Joel William Slaughter and Sara Lee Slaughter, and her Brother Richard William Slaughter in her eternal resting place. She leaves behind her Sister Rhonda Remland and family. Husband Gary Remland, daughter Christi, husband Andrew and her great nieces London Joy, Georgia and Brooklyn.
To all of the Melmark staff, current and past, there are no words to properly thank you for the life you have given Joy and the love, comfort and care you have given day after day.
Joy Bells, we love and miss you very much...and Lord, THANK YOU for the gift of JOY!
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