Note: On Aug. 2, the Kent Reporter ran an article about the rose garden that friends and family created for terminal cancer patient Joey Brothers. The following article records the end of Joey’s story.
Josephine (Joey) Sue Brothers died as she had lived, at peace, but fighting cancer to the very end.
Joey died in her Kent home Aug. 5, 2008, from brain cancer. She was 58.
Her death came just two weeks after friends and family had finished creating a rose garden in her backyard as a surprise for her.
“If it had only been two days, it would have been worth it (to make the garden),” said Judi Mutal, Joey’s sister, adding that Joey had loved the garden.
Mutal said that shortly before Joey’s death, Joey had brought one of the visiting hospice nurses out to look at the garden with her. While the two of them sat on the porch, looking out at the garden, Joey had said, “I can just see myself walking down those steps, across that gravel path, and through those arbor gates, and then I’ll fly with the angels.”
“So when I think about Joey, I think about her flying with the angels,” Mutal said.
Joey had battled cancer for 12 years, having been first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996.
During her years of treatment and remission, Joey took up the cause of breast cancer research. She made dolls and bracelets, which she sold through her nonprofit business, Pink Bow Productions (www.pinkbow.com), to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation (now Susan G. Komen for the Cure).
In her lifetime, Joey raised about $30,000 for breast cancer research, according to Mutal.
Joey’s Web site, www.pinkbow.com, has been converted to a memorial Web site, containing photos of her garden, messages from friends, news articles and other information about her life.
Joey was born Aug. 18, 1949, in Seattle, to parents Malcolm and Irene Powell. She graduated from Franklin High School, and spent most of her working career – 22 years – with Nordstrom.
She is survived by her husband, Ron Brothers, sister Judi Mutal (Mike), sons Dwynn Nyquist (Kristi) and Ron Brothers Jr. (Amanda), four grandchildren and many cousins.
A memorial service celebrating her life took place Aug. 16 at Greenwood Memorial Park in Renton.
In lieu of flowers, well-wishers are asked to make donations to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Contact staff writer Christine Shultz at 253-872-6600, ext. 5056, or cshultz@reporternewspapers.com.
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