Birth date: Nov 16, 1950 Death date: Feb 15, 2024
Joyce Maria (Sarian) Gibbs, age 73 of Tampa, Florida, died at AdventHealth Hospital on February 15, 2024. She was born on November 16, 1950, in Tampa, Florida, to Fred & Connie (Lazzara) Sarian. She graduated from Hillsborough Hi Read Obituary
My sincerest condolences to Tom and family. It was wonderful to know Joyce--we laughed many times while I was doing her pedicure and I will miss her. She always had a smile on her face no matter how good or bad she was feeling and bragged so much about her family! Sending light and love to her husband *Tom* and to her family. Carol Defranz, JCPenney salon.
Teddy - This past year my Dad rented a beach wheelchair when we were in Florida. I was able to push Aunt Joyce on the beach and around the condo. Aunt Joyce laughed and kept telling me how strong I was. That was the last time she went to the beach and it was special to be there with her. Aunt Joyce loved to go to Dairy Queen and get a treat with us when we were at the beach. Aunt Joyce always told me I was her favorite. I know that we all loved her and that we’ll miss her. Ay Yi Yi Yi!
Dovey - I loved going to the beach with Aunt Joyce and eating seafood with her. She came to visit us in Texas a few times and she came to eat lunch with me at school. I was so excited. I liked guessing which ornament she would send me for Christmas.
Milo - I really loved her. She held me as a baby. She gave me peanut butter treats and I’ll never forget it. She let me put sand on her feet. I sang to her sometimes on FaceTime and I danced. She would laugh a lot. I love you Aunt Joyce.
My favorite memories of Auntie Joyce are my talks with her. She was fiery and feisty and let you know but she had a huge heart once you got in. I remember her taking us to Burger King for breakfast when we stayed with her as kids. She loved to go to the beach and was down for adventure. Auntie Joyce expected me to come see her yearly and go to the beach. Auntie Joyce loved my kids and always wanted to know about them. I remember taking her on drives in Clearwater and wondering what the people did to afford those beach homes. I was grateful of the week I got to spend with her and help out when Uncle Tom was in the hospital. We had some great talks and I took her to the beach and we just sat there and listened to the waves for about hour. I’ll miss her calling me, and her saying “Ay Yi Yi Yi”! We loved all the Christmas ornaments and the kids looked forward to getting them every year. Thanks for the memories. We love you Aunt Joyce.
Love Joey Schrupp
Aunt Joyce will always be remembered for the phrase. “Aye yay yay.” She made the best Greek salad IPO. Her Christmas ornaments were eagerly awaited every Christmas and will be proudly displayed in my home long into the future. She loved her nieces a nephews like her own. She shared my family’s heritage with my children. She was the reason that my wife and family learn to love Tampa as much as I do. From Alessi Bakery to Cuban sandwiches to Indian Shores. So many of these memories I made as a kid I got to share with my kids because of Joyce. I think a huge reason for how special a place like Tampa is because that’s where my mother’s family was from… thank you Aunt Joyce. I love you. Rest in peace!!!
My favorite memory of Aunt Joyce was when I was six year old. Colby and I went with Aunt Jen to Florida. It was a nice clear day and we decided to go to Bush Gardens. I remember bits and pieces of that trip, but my favorite memory was Aunt Joyce on her flashy scooter, rolling around the park. She had on her nice sunglasses and her hair was all done up like always. Colby was messing with her a bit and she said jokingly she was going to run him over. We still joke about it years later.
My memories of Joyce is how loving she was to all of her family. Although she never had children of how own, she treated her nieces and nephews, and grat nieces and nephews as her own children. She always remember birthdays and sent everyone a Hallmark ornamnet for Christmas. I enjoyed spending many years at the beach with Joyce and family. We will continue to do so in remembrance of Joyce.
Rest in peace, dear friend. Condolences & prayers to your family during this time of sorrow. May your memory live forever. God Bless.
