August 19, 1934 – July 23, 2023
Joyce Kearns passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home in Arizona. She was 88 years old. Joyce was born and raised in Aspen, Colorado. Her mother, Gladyce Hart Christiansen, descended from Henry Stats, one of the first thirteen miners who started Aspen. Gladyce grew up on the ranch in Capitol Creek which is now the monastery. Her father, Jens Lindvig Christiansen, immigrated from Denmark at age twelve. His aunt, Johanna Katrina Lindvig, the “Cattle Queen of Snowmass”, homesteaded a cattle ranch in the Snowmass Creek Valley. Joyce grew up on the Glendale Stock Farm on Owl Creek. Jens ranched there for 72 years. They all retired to Glenwood Springs and Joyce lived there for 32 years.
Joyce loved history, skiing, reading, bowling, the PBR, horses, and cats. She enjoyed socializing with her many friends and loved a good party. She ski raced for Colorado A & M (now CSU). She was a third-generation member of both the Aspen Literary Club and the Aspen Elks. She doted on her children Susan Barrena and Jerry Kearns, grandchildren Katrina Marzorati, Matthew Barrena, Jason and Jeffrey Kearns, and great-grandchildren Ronan and Gia Marzorati. She enoyed time with her nieces Marlene Maddalone and Linda Hamlin and her cousins.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, aunts and uncles, husband Thomas Kearns, and her sisters-in-law Pat Maddalone and Luetta Whitson.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Glenwood Springs on August 11, 2023 at 10:30 am. A luncheon will follow in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Mohammed Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix are appreciated.