Joyce Gaffney

On August 6th we lost our best friend, mother, and grandma. She was born Joyce Slagowski on May 2, 1930, to John Ezra Slagowski and Sara Jane (Deanie) Bodell Slagowski. By the time she was in school, she already had a nickname of “Slug-a-Whiskey” cause no one could pronounce her last name. She was the youngest girl of 12 children and is survived by her younger brother, Milton Slagowski, and an older sister, Donna Traver.
Momma was a strong woman: a fighter. She tried so hard to get well, but the Lord had other plans for her. So she’s off on a new adventure, breaking trail for the rest of us.
This beautiful woman, who was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside, has four daughters: Maureen G. Curtis, Roberta L. Gaffney, Vicky G. Spainhower, and Robyn L. Gaffney who are by inheritance, equally as beautiful! (Laugh Momma!)
If you can’t tell by this, she had an amazing sense of humor and wit. She was also very stubborn, but was so loving and generous too. She was all about her family, especially her grandchildren. What’s not to love, right?
She married our dad and grandpa, Robert Lee Gaffney, in Elko, Nevada, January 23, 1950. They celebrated with a wedding dinner of BLT’s! They were married for 38 years until Dad passed away December 10, 1988. Together they had those four beautiful daughters, 12 amazing grandchildren, 27 awesome great grandchildren and one absolutely wonderful great, great grandchild.
She was a talented, knowledgeable, wise and funny lady. She loved to play cards. Pinochle and Rummy were her specialty. She started a Pinochle Club and kept it going for 50 years. The members she referred to as “The Girls!”
She will live with us always in our hearts. It was an honor being her family.
Until we meet again Momma, Grandma, “We love you to the moon . . . and back. God speed!”
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at the LDS Poplar Grove Church, 1401 W. 700 S. Salt Lake City, UT. A viewing will be held Monday evening, August 10, 2015 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Redwood Memorial Mortuary (6500 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan, UT 84123), as well as a viewing one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. After the services, the interment will take place at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. 10600 S., Sandy, UT 84092.