Joellen Principe

Joellen Principe passed away February 17, 2022.  She was born September 2, 1941, in Trenton, TN.  Joellen was a graduate of Dyer High School and attended Secretary School in Jackson.   She later moved to Memphis where she met her husband of 58 years, Richard Principe.   Shortly thereafter they moved to Jacksonville, FL.   She worked initially as a Church Secretary at Arlington Baptist Church and then as an Administrative Assistant for a prominent medical clinic.  During this time, she helped raise two beautiful children, Brian and Jill while maintaining a loving and supportive household.

Joellen enjoyed decorating and interior design.  She was a wonderful decorator with an eye for beauty and dedication to detail.  At Christmas, she magically transformed her home into a winter wonderland.  With Joellen as Mrs. Claus and her husband as Santa, they delighted neighborhood children with festive lights, holiday displays and wonderful Christmas memories.  One of Joellen’s passions was her role in the Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital Holiday Toy and Book Drive.   With the assistance of the Women’s Network at Jacksonville Golf and Country Club, toys and books were collected in the life-size Santa sleigh with reindeer that was proudly displayed on her front lawn.   These toys were then distributed to children spending Christmas in the hospital, worried that Santa wouldn’t know where to find them.   Joellen had such a giving heart and was a source of joy and inspiration to all who knew her.

Joellen was a woman of faith who loved the Lord.  She and her husband led Sunday school classes for many years at Arlington Baptist, Fort Caroline Baptist and Chet’s Creek.  As partners of a Square Dance Retreat in the mountains of East Tennessee, Joellen loved square dancing and meeting guests who returned each year.  They also enjoyed their English Mountain home.  It was beautifully decorated with photos that included many memorable holidays and special times spent on the mountain.  Her favorite time to visit was during the Fall as she loved all the beauty and splendor of the brilliant foliage.

Joellen had an adventurous spirit and loved to travel.  Her favorite travel destinations included trips to New York, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii and Italy.

But most of all, Joellen loved her family.  She enjoyed hosting events filled with specially prepared meals, tradition and prayer.  She gave us love, strength, advice and wisdom. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

Joellen is survived by her loving husband Richard; son, Brian (Janet) Principe; daughter, Jill (Scott) Trenor; five grandchildren: Farryn (Justin) Wiest, Katelyn (Bryan) Sullivan, Kyle, Ashlyn and Sierra; sister, Pat (Frank) Darty; aunt, Dorothy Helen Steffenauer; five great grandchildren: Kynlee, Harper, Camden, Haven and Lucas; and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.   She is preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Vivian Castleman and sisters Chonoy, Joy, Christine and Barbara.

A Celebration of Life service will be announced at a later date.