Those of us lucky enough to remember living our childhood in a true community, will appreciate what I mean by “one of my second mothers”.
I had a bunch of second mothers in my community. These were our neighbors, all close friends of my mom, who looked out for the well-being of each other’s kids.
Among them all, the closest was Joyce Bengtson who lived right accross the street. Mother to Brenda, John, and Andrew, and watchful guardian of every child that wandered by. She was my own mother’s best friend.
Joyce passed away quietly last Monday morning, from cancer – as many of you already know. I feel in my heart, that her late husband Paul (one of my second fathers) was there to embrace her. Here are a few memories I have recorded in recent years.



