Joyce McDonald Mitten, 76, passed away peacefully April 30, 2011, in her home, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her eight children in Hayden Lake.

Joyce was born Oct. 12, 1934, in Los Angeles, Calif., to George and Helen (Murphy) McDonald. She went to 12 years of parochial school in California and attended the University of Southern California. In 1953, she began her first employment at North American North Aviation and enjoyed her three years as an Assistant Planner in Engineering. She married her beloved husband, Raymond Mitten on May 7, 1955, in Los Angeles, Calif., and moved to Anaheim, Calif., where she began the most important accomplishment of her life, building the foundation of her family as a devoted wife and mother.

Ray and Joyce moved to Hayden Lake in 1969, where she continued to keep her family bonded, instilled respect for others, the importance of unconditional love and the preservation of tradition, a value each of her children cherish to this day and the glue that keeps them close. In 1976, she began working in the North Idaho College bookstore as a buyer where she met many dear and precious friends. She retired in 1998.

Living their dream and both retired, they bought a winter home in Palm Desert, Calif., where she enjoyed being a snowbird. She learned to golf and joined a women's putting club and volunteered her time at the Palm Desert Open tennis tournament.

Joyce lost the love of her life and husband of 46 years, to cancer in 2000. While this was a difficult period, she continued to do the things they had enjoyed together and spent the next 10 years visiting her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, watching their sports, attending events, birthdays and holidays. Baking cookies was a passion and taking her grandchildren to "Breakfast with Santa" at The Coeur d'Alene Resort was an annual tradition.

A lifelong volunteer, Joyce enjoyed giving her time and talents to many organizations including: Honorary lifetime PTA board member, Brownie leader, Girl Scout leader and Den mother, Kootenai Medical Center, active St. Pius X Catholic Church member, Member of Elks, Cancer and Community Charities of Coeur d'Alene, and Ironman.

She is survived by her eight children: Jan Feely (Barry), Debbie Carr (Gary), Marty Mitten (Celeste), Victoria Kaleff (Jim), Lisa Bern (Jim), Michele Kirby (Shannon), Kelly Murray (Brad) and Christopher Mitten (Laura); 25 grandchildren: Jessica Markel (Chad), Breanna, Marissa, Michaela (Austin) and Brandon Feely, Tosh, Taylor (Jill) and Amber Carr, Jonathan Moyles (Penny), Matthew DeCosta, Nicolas, Shawn and Stephanie Mitten, Mackenzie Kaleff, Kerry Wallman (Ed), Kristin Merrill (Nathan), Jake and Kyle Kirby, Kristie and Emily Farrell, Riley, Madison, and Kathryn Murray, Alexa and Camry Mitten; 12 great-great-grandchildren: Hannah and Evan Markel, Raif and Kloe Carr (Lacey Waller), Chrissy, Connor, Ashlyn and Emily Moyles, Madelyn and Max Wallman, Abby and Lily Merrill; two brothers: Tom McDonald and Mike McDonald (Maryann); and numerous nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.

In our mothers words [I was] "blessed by a wonderful husband, loving children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, two very special brothers, dear friends and a loving God who has finally taken me home to Ray. I loved being a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother."

Joyce's family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Hospice of North Idaho for their unbelievable guidance, support and care of our mother over the past month.

A celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 7, 2011, at Saint Pius X Catholic Church, Coeur d'Alene. All friends are welcome to attend.

The family prefers memorials to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835; North Idaho College Foundations, Coeur d'Alene, or Saint Pius X Catholic Church, Coeur d'Alene.

Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel, is in charge of the arrangements. Please visit Joyce's memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.