Joy Treloar

Joy Renee Treloar was a remarkable young woman who touched hundreds of lives throughout her 38 years of life.

Joy was born March 19, 1975 and lived in Sumner, Iowa and died Aug. 14, 2013 in Phoenix, Ariz. of neuromuscular disease (Werdnig-Hoffman Disease).

Joy viewed challenges in her life as “speed bumps,” not as dead ends. If life offered a closed door, she searched for an open window. As she grew up, some peers teased her by turning off the switch of her motorized wheelchair. More often, they looked for her listening ear and wisdom.

Joy and her parents, Robert and Linda, moved from Dunkerton, Iowa to Fountain Hills in August 1985. In 1989, the Phoenix Mayor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities recognized Joy as its Outstanding Intermediate School Student.

Joy taught Sunday school to third grade students at Scottsdale Bible Church, and tutored Spanish speaking students with English as their second language. She was active in Junior and Senior Girl Scouts, achieving the highest honor, a Gold Award.

Joy was treasurer of the National Honor Society, in addition to being active in other community- based service clubs.

Joy graduated from Coronado High School at the top of her class in 1993. She was awarded numerous scholarships and honors for academics and community involvement. Most prestigious, Joy was recognized statewide as an Arizona “Student Star” for personal achievements by outstanding high school students who overcame disabilities.

During Joy’s early school years, she obedience trained her purebred Shih Tzu, Joy’s Golden Genie, obtaining the National Kennel Club’s Obedience Certification at the novice level. The Arizona Republic and Gazette did a full page photo story on Joy and Genie. This wasn’t the only dog to capture Joy’s interest. Alfie, a Golden Retriever service dog, excelled as a companion but sometimes fell a bit short as a helper. Most important, he served as a bridge between others and Joy.

Joy obtained a B.S. in elementary education from Grand Canyon University in December 1997 with an emphasis in Spanish and math. Her Master’s Degree in bilingual education was from Ottawa University.

Joy’s passion was to teach disadvantaged children. That dream was carried out in Roosevelt School District (No. 66) in inner city Phoenix from April 1998 to June 2008. Gazing at the steel bars that enclosed the school, Joy commented: “That keeps others out, not us in.”

She began teaching students having special education needs, before moving to C.O. Greenfield School where she primarily taught fifth grade students recently arrived in the U.S., having English as their second language.

Joy viewed each student as unique and able to succeed. In addition to being a bilingual teacher, Joy wrote grants to develop and implement essential after-school programming. The students liked that Joy was at eye level and approachable. Despite her young age and years of experience, she was viewed as a mentor by her colleagues. Declining health ended Joy’s active teaching career.

Joy married Jose Luis Alvarez Cardenas, her caregiver, on Jan. 31, 2010. Jose provided loving, tireless 24/7 care for Joy, ready to suction or move a part of her body slightly to promote comfort.

Joy’s faith in Jesus sustained her throughout her life. Joy’s favorite Bible verses were:

“For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NLT).

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV).

In addition to Joy’s husband, Jose Alvarez Cardenas (Phoenix), and her parents, Bob and Linda Treloar (Fountain Hills), other surviving family members include grandparents, Rodger and Lela Dos (Waterloo, Iowa) and Lugene Treloar (Fredericksburg, Iowa).

Bob and Linda Treloar, in pre-planning with Joy, will establish the Joy Treloar Scholarship for college students with disabilities. Memorial monies will be placed in the scholarship fund.

A memorial service was held on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013 at Abel Funeral Services (AbelFuneralServices.com). Condolences may be left on Abel’s web page or on Joy Treloar’s Facebook page.