Joy Cava Sullivan

Joy Cava Sullivan was born in Subic, Philippines on June 21, 1961 to parents Maximino Farrales Cava and Soledad Faminilay Cava. She departed this life, much too soon at the age of 49 following a lengthy illness. Joy's husband Edward would like to share the following thoughts about his relationship and love for Joy:

"Dear Jesus, help me to walk in the courage of my faith.
I prayed hard for God to help Joy through this illness. I promised him anything and everything that I could think of to change my life for the better, if he would just find it in his heart to give her back to me. I started looking back on my life for all the times that I may have taken her love for granted. I apologized to God for all my shortcomings and asked him for guidance, all in the hope that he would listen to my prayers and heal her.

At first, I was upset with God for taking her from me. I felt like he had let me down. But, as I looked down on Joy's little body in that hospital bed, I realized that there was no more pain on her face. She wasn't gasping for air. I had seen all the pain and suffering she had gone through and now she was at peace.

It will be very hard for me to get through life without her. We shared a love that only comes along once in a lifetime. Of course, we had our ups and downs, but we always got through it together.

I thank God for the twenty-three years of marriage to Joy. I have always considered her a precious gift from him. Being with her has enriched my life in ways that I can't even begin to describe. She had a heart so big that people were drawn to her. She touched so many people's lives.

I know that God holds a special place in heaven for Joy. And she will always have a special place in my heart. I know that she is happy now with her family in heaven and I pray that someday I will be with her again.

I open my heart to God and ask him to guide me in this hour of sorrow".
Joy's family will receive friends at a visitation from 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 28, 2010 at Allen Family Funeral Options. A Prayer Vigil service will be held on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano, Texas 75023. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. Joy will be laid to rest at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorials to be made in Joy's name to American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org , American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org or any program supporting the treatment, prevention or cure for Pulmonary Hypertension.