Obituary of Joyce E. Mate

June 16, 1933 – October 23, 2021

Joyce E. Mate. Age 88 of Southgate.

Beloved wife of the late Joseph Mate.  Loving mother of Joseph Mate, Marie (Dennis) Kelly, Paul (Susan Lynn) Mate, Joan (Sherrie Presley) Mate and Nancy (Scott Reiber) Mate.  Also survived by 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Family Tribute

Growing up, mom took a trolley and bus back and forth to Northwestern High School located in Detroit. Upon completing high school, she went on to her first job as a bookkeeper at Monroe Bank and Trust. Eventually, she would end up working at a doctor's office for 23 years before retiring.

While mom and dad were dating, mom would routinely take her nephew (Dasher aka Denny) in a stroller, passing my father's house since she knew the time he was home from work. Their love for each other was forbidden by her parents. The more involved with each other, the stricter her father was due to religious beliefs. Mom and dad came up with a system when they could not be together by using flashlights. They would do this to get each other's attention, to say hi, and to say goodnight after their dates. Despite her father's intent to keep them apart, mom and dad decided to elope. 

Mom mothered five children, which made for stressful times as well as fun times between food fights, water fights using the outside hose inside of the house, playing baseball with her brothers and sisters-in-law. We really looked like the Charlie Brown gang. 

Mom always would put her children first before her own needs. She was known to faithfully send birthday cards to family, friends, co-workers, and even patients of the doctor she worked for. This tradition will be greatly missed. 

Mom was loved by all who met her.