Joyce K. Guarascio

Joyce K. Guarascio, 81, of La Quinta, CA, passed away at home surrounded by family and love on February 1, 2018, after a 12-year battle with Parkinson's disease. She faced each day with strength, dignity and grace.
Joyce was born on June 24, 1936, in Salt Lake City, UT, to Wendell and Edna Hansen. Her work took her and her country, literally, to the Moon. At Hughes Aircraft, she painstakingly wired electronic harnesses on a half-dozen Surveyor spacecraft that successfully landed on the Moon, and later managed radar manufacturing.
In retirement, she brought her skills to hand-crafting an exceptionally detailed collection of china dolls. She and her husband Donald loved taking smooth-jazz cruises and traveling the world with good friends. With a welcoming heart, they created a beautiful home in La Quinta. As a member of the Red Hat Society and other groups, she inspired friendship and philanthropy.
Joyce is survived by her sister Beth Maxwell of Bountiful, UT; her son Robert Moon and his partner Timothy Hines of New York, NY; her stepchildren, Steven Guarascio of Vail, CO, and Dawn Yruretagoyena of Redlands, CA; and six grandchildren, Jenna, Kelly, Sarah, Aubrhe, Emily, and Rob, who all brought a sparkle to their Granny G's eye.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Donald, whom she married on April 22, 1978; her parents; and granddaughter Wendy of Salt Lake City.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 7, from 4:00-8:00 pm at Forest Lawn, 69855 E. Ramon Rd., Cathedral City CA 92234. A funeral will be held Thursday, February 8, at 11:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 81870 Ave 48, Indio CA 92201. She will be interred on February 9 at Coachella Valley Cemetery, 82-925 Ave 52, Coachella CA 92236.