Joyce Lundgren Fene' affectionately known as "Grammy" by her beloved grandchildren, lived life to the fullest.

Joyce was born on April 7th, 1936 in Spokane, Washington to loving parents Elma Schell and Ed (Edvard) Lundgren. She often spoke of her parent's marriage with great admiration, remembering it as a loving partnership that shaped the way she saw family and life.

Joyce spent her childhood in Ritzville and Kennewick, Washington where she grew up alongside her four sisters — Darlene, Donna, Sherry and Sue. Their home life was full and lively, set on a 10-acre asparagus patch and a 10-acre cherry orchard. Their mother, Elma, was a dedicated music teacher for more than 20 years. Music was an important part of Joyce's life from an early age. She especially loved to sing and perform. After graduating from Kennewick High School Joyce took off for California and the Las Vegas to chase big dreams and bright lights. In those years she performed alongside entertainers of the era, including Elvis Presley. Those adventures were stories she would share for the rest of her life.

In the early 1950's, the Lundgren family traveled back and forth between Kennewick and Duchesne, Utah where her father purchased and ran a motel. It was while attending Utah State College that Joyce's life took another meaningful turn when she met Kim Fene. The two quickly formed a partnership that would take them on a remarkable journey across the country. After marrying, Joyce and Kim moved to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, where Kim began his career as a National Park Ranger. Within their first year of marriage, they welcomed twin daughters, Sandra and Laureen, beginning the busy and joyful life of raising a family.

The Fene family continued to follow Kim's National Park career, living in some of the most beautiful places in the country. They moved to Blowing Rock and Spruce Pine, North Carolina where Kim worked along the Blue Ridge Parkway. During their time there they welcomed two more wonderful children, Forest (Mark) and Deanna. Their adventures continued moving to the amazing Grand Canyon in Arizona and then later to fascinating Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Joyce loved living and raising her family in the National Parks.

Joyce never stopped pursuing her own goals. The day she dropped off her youngest for kindergarten, Joyce enrolled in Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Balancing family life, work and school was no small feat. To help pay for her education, she sold radio advertising while continuing her studies. It took a number of years of dedication and perseverance, but Joyce eventually earned her bachelor's degree and her teaching certificate — an accomplishment she worked hard to achieve.

Later, the family moved to Jonesboro Georgia, where Kim worked with the National Park Regional Office in Atlanta. When the art teacher at Jonesboro High School left unexpectedly, Sandra encouraged her to apply. Joyce did— and she got the job! It proved to be a great fit. For the next 20 years, Joyce inspired students as an art teacher at Jonesboro High School. She loved encouraging creativity and proudly exhibited her student's work throughout Clayton County. Teaching allowed her to share her love of art and expression with generations of young people before retiring after two decades in the classroom. During the summers she'd pack up her car and A-liner pop-up camper and along with her Persian cat would drive to see family across the country. She especially loved visiting Sherry and family in Duchesne, Utah and Darlene and family in the Tri-Cities, Washington area. And of course, she loved visiting Sandra and her family in California and Forest and grandson in the Southwest.

Mom worked hard for everything in her life and after retirement, she worked for Clarins Makeup at the local mall for several years to receive Social Security. Being the fiercely independent person she was, she sold her home in Jonesboro and with that money she purchased a charming home with a swimming pool and a lanai in St. Augustine, Florida, paying cash for it in full—just as her father had taught her to do: always pay for everything in cash.

St. Augustine became home for the next 24 years and Joyce embraced life there fully. She continued singing with big bands and at piano bars and became an active member of the local Jazz Society. She sang in the church choir every Sunday at Grace United Methodist Church and was an active church member. She hosted her own program on the local college radio station called 'Our Town St. Augustine' where she interviewed musicians, artists, festival organizers, historians, and other members of the community. Joyce became somewhat of a local celebrity in St. Augustine, known and loved for her vivacious personality. The thing she loved most about living in St. Augustine was being close to her daughter Deanna and husband Greg and spending time with her grandchildren Lauren, Chester and Wil. Carrying her old worn-out movie camera in tow, Grammy never missed a school play, baseball game, swim meet or any other activity. She was always the loudest cheerleader in the stands and the proudest grandparent in the audience. She also traveled across the country to spend time with her other two grandchildren Alistair (Forest) and Madeline (Sandra and Greg) and she always encouraged all five of her grandchildren to follow their dreams, no matter what, just as she had done.

Joyce was an amazing inspiration to her children, grandchildren, and many others. She loved gatherings, deep conversation and she had a strong desire to connect with everyone and anyone. She loved to travel and inspired her children to travel as well. She used to say "I have places to go and people to see". She traveled far and wide, and so have her adult children. Joyce was quite upbeat and positive, using the word "wonderful" probably too frequently. She was extremely proud of her children who all graduated from college in their chosen fields, Laureen in Musical Theater, Sandra in Art, Forest in Wildlife Biology and Forestry, and Deanna in TV Journalism. She was also thrilled all of her grandchildren attended college.

In her final few years, Joyce was cared for by the devoted staff at Starling Memory Care in Jacksonville, Florida, where she continued to bring joy to those around her. She could often be found singing and dancing at happy hours and community events, sharing the same lively spirit that had defined her life.

Joyce's accomplishments were many. She graduated from Kennewick High School in 1954 and received her Bachelor of Arts with a Teachers Certificate from Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado in 1974. She also found our living Swedish relatives by tirelessly researching the Lundgren genealogy and then traveling to Sweden multiple times to meet them in person.

Joyce is survived by three of her four children, Sandra Fene' Wolfson (husband Greg), Forest 'Mark' Fene, and Deanna Fene' Holland (husband Greg); and five grandchildren; Alistair Fene, Madeline Wolfson, Lauren Holland, Chester Holland and Wil Holland. She was preceded in death by her daughter Laureen Marie Fene' (1989), her sister Donna Lundgren Sabin (1994), and parents Ed Lundgren (1974) and Elma Lundgren Setters (2000).

Joyce passed away peacefully at the age of 89, just over one month shy of her 90th birthday, surrounded by family and music on February 28th, 2026.

Joyce's Graveside service, Memorial, and Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 28th, 2026 in Kennewick, Washington. A separate Celebration of Life Service will take place on April 7th, 2026 at Grace United Methodist Church in St. Augustine, Florida. All who knew and loved her are welcome to attend. Guests are encouraged to wear a splash of bright pink or a little something that sparkles.

For those unable to attend or who wish to give in her memory, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church in Kennewick, Washington or Grace United Methodist Church in St. Augustine, Florida. Or, in true Joyce fashion, open a bottle of white wine and share it with neighbors, friends, or family —celebrating life, music, and togetherness the way she always did.

Joyce will be remembered for her creativity, resilience, warmth, and the unmistakable sparkle and joy she brought to every room she entered. Her life was one filled with music, art, adventure, and deep love for family and community.

EVENTS:

Graveside Service

Saturday, March 28, 2026

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Riverview Heights Cemetery

1200 S. Olympia

Kennewick, WA 99336

Memorial Service

Saturday, March 28, 2026

3:00pm - 4:00pm

Kennewick First United Methodist Church

2 S. Dayton St.

Kennewick, WA 99336

Celebration of Life Kennewick

Saturday, March 28, 2026

6:00pm - 9:00pm

The Pub at Affinity at Southridge

5207 W. Hildebrand

Kennewick, WA 99338

Celebration of Life St. Augustine

Tuesday April 7, 2026

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Grace United Methodist Church

8 Carrera St,

St. Augustine, FL 32084

Reception

Tuesday April 7, 2026

3:00pm - 5:00pm

Casa Monica Hotel

95 Cordova St.

St. Augustine, FL 32084