Joellen "Joey" Sibley

Joellen Sibley was a woman with a powerful love inside her, a love for family, for friends, and for life. She was passionate about so many things, from her glorious garden, to her parade of pets, to simply making each of her days meaningful, and memorable. Joey was a devoted wife, loving mother and doting grandmother, who made each of our days so much better by knowing her. Joey's story began on a warm summer day in 1949, in the town of Howell, Michigan. Those were exciting times in this country, as so many of our heroes had returned from World War II to claim their share of the American Dream, beginning the Baby Boomer generation. On June 23, 1949, a warm Thursday in Howell, Joseph and Bernice (VanBlarcum) Howle celebrated their own little baby boom, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Joellen. Joellen joined her little brother Allen in the family's Brighton home, which was a very tight-knit clan. Her father was an entrepreneur, and had his busy hands full in many different businesses, including a bar/hotel, a carpet & tile business and many rental properties, too. Joey's mother was a homemaker, who lovingly cared for her children and later grandchildren, too. When Joey was a young girl, she enjoyed playing with her lifelong best friends Rosemary, Bonnie and Helen, and the girls would roller skate all around town. Joey, in particular, loved roller skating, and when she was older she even became a roller skating waitress at the local A drive-in restaurant! Joey was a precocious girl growing up, but she had a temper, too! Whenever she didn't get her way around her home, she'd run off to her Grandma Allie's house, taking her little brother Allen with her! But Joey was very, very close to her mother, father and little brother her whole life. Joey graduated from Brighton High School in 1967, and went on to attend college and studied business administration. She also was blessed with two wonderful children, her son Brett and her daughter Allie. She was particularly close to Allie, who she named after her grandmother, and who was truly her sidekick and best friend. Allie shared everything with her mother as she got older, often much more than Joey wanted to know! Joey was an amazing mother, who would do anything for her children, and stood behind them no matter what, nurturing them with her unconditional love and support. She provided for her family by working as a bartender at her father's business, and began to take over the day-to-day operations. She loved working there, with the people she worked with, and working with her hands. One day her Uncle Bill introduced her to a wonderful man named Art Sibley, while visiting Bill in Nunica, on the west side of Michigan. The sparks flew between them, and they quickly fell in love and were married in 1987 in Pickney, Michigan. Art remembers the day so fondly, on her brother Allen's deck surrounded by family, enjoying the special day. Art and Joey were perfect for each other, though, becoming best friends who could talk about anything with each other, and enjoyed laughing together, as well. Art brought two children of his own into the marriage, Art Jr. and Sherie, who Joey loved like her own. Art Jr. remembers the tears in Joey's eyes at his own wedding to Denise, when they presented her with a rose. Art and Joey settled in west Michigan after their wedding, and Joey found a job at Hortech in Spring Lake, where she became involved in horticulture both professionally and personally. She discovered that not only did she enjoy working with her hands, but she also had a green thumb, and transformed their yard into a veritable Garden of Eden. Joey loved life, and loved watching things grow, and had so many beautiful plants adorning her home. Joey was also a passionate animal lover, who had more pets than you could name throughout her life, each one as beloved as the others. One of her friend Lisa's fondest memories of Joey was of her three pets sitting patiently by her feet at every meal, waiting for their share, knowing begging wasn't allowed! Joey had other loves, too, like watching Michigan football games, or playing a good game of cards, or of course shopping. Joey lived to shop, and always had a beer budget with champagne taste, as Art's credit card statements can attest! Sadly, Joey was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, yet she was determined to battle the disease on every front she could. She was a member of the MS Society, MDA and the Telethon for Jerry's Kids, too, and was passionate about finding a cure - not just for herself, but for others, as well. Always a selfless, giving person, Joey hated the disease for what it did to family and friends, too. The pain from her MS forced Joey to retire in 1998, and she set about making her retirement as enjoyable and memorable as possible. She enjoyed spending her days shopping, with her beloved grandchildren, gardening, or just relaxing in the sun by the pool. Every day was a great day to Joey, as long as she was doing what she wanted to do, and spending time with her beloved family, who were always most important to her. Sadly, Joey lost her courageous battle with MS on Monday, December 18, 2006, at the age of 57. Joey was a wonderful woman, a woman with such great love in her heart, a love for family, for friendship, and for life. She was a devoted wife, doting mother and grandmother, and a friend to so many over the years. Most of all, Joey was a light in the life of all who knew her. She will be greatly missed. Surviving are her husband, Art Sibley; son, Brett Travis (Nicole) of Fenton, MI; daughter, Allie (Jeremy) Canfield of Brighton, MI; Step-children, Art (Denise) Sibley, Jr., Sherie Thompson; 5 grandchildren, Joseph, Majerle, Braylon, Marshall 2 step-grandchildren, Nicole & Desiree Thompson; several nieces & nephews; dear friend & caregiver, Lisa Hite. She was preceded in death by her parents & 1 brother, Allen Howle. Services are Friday, December 22, 2006, 12: 00 PM, at the Clock Chapel - Fruitport with Pastor Jerald Poehl officiating. Interment at Fruitport Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday, 2-4 & 7-9 PM, at the Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Fruitport. Memorials may be made to the Hospice of North Ottawa-Community. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.