Joy R. Hagelin (nee Robinson)

Joy Hagelin (nee Robinson), 75, passed away on May 25, 2021. She is survived by her husband of almost 54 years, Bruce, daughter Laurel Wolff (Matt), son Chris (Kate), brother Joel, and grandchildren, Caroline, Henry, Brooke, Ruby, Nate and Erin.

She is preceded in death by her much adored parents, Berniece and Vernon Robinson and many cats, mostly Siamese. Joy was born and raised in the Philadelphia area but always had a love for the West developed during her childhood visits to her Phoenix area cousins.

 A life-long foodie, she relished a good hoagie and much to her children’s dismay, carted many a brick of Scrapple across state lines. In 1966, Joy graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She loved to share her nursing school experiences, many of which revolved around the close friendships she formed with her fellow HUPsters. Out of their starched uniforms, those young women’s “boots were made for walkin’!” It was a bond, so strong, that she and several of her dearest nursing school friends still gather once or twice a year to celebrate life. In June of 1967, Joy and Bruce were married - the early years of their family life spent zig zagging around the country with Bruce’s work, until settling in Bath, OH in 1975. Described by her children as a professional volunteer, Joy was active in the PTA and the Scouts.

Having battled breast cancer in her twenties, Joy was immensely dedicated to caring for cancer patients and spent countless hours on the oncology floor at Akron General Hospital. But Mobile Meals was her decades long commitment. Often with kids in tow (and Neil Diamond on the 8-track), she delivered meals, she assessed clients- she did it all so well she was hired by the not for profit in the 1980s as Director of Volunteers. 1986 began six years of ex-pat living in Brussels and Luxembourg City. Joy soaked up all the travel, cuisine, style, London theater, Art Nouveau, Birkenstocks, Campari and Villeroy & Boch that she could - opening their home to family, the best of friends and stray college students. She was never done with Verdun! Back in Akron, Joy found a social and creative home with Tuesday Musical. In her element, she spent 12 years as the Chairperson of the Hospitality Committee- not just planning events but cooking and decorating for them as well. In 2013, she was presented the Lola Rothmann Volunteer Achievement Award in recognition of her efforts. Joy also loved to share her culinary skills with her Gourmet Group friends. In her own words, Joy (aka Goobie) was a “Go-er, Do-er, Be-er” and that is how she’ll always be remembered. She was beautiful and she made everything she touched beautiful too.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joy’s name can be made to Tuesday Musical at tuesdaymusical.org/donate . A private celebration of life will be held when Joy’s garden is in full bloom and it will be “fab!”

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road  Akron, OH  44333.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.