For Joy Johnson Brown, an independent living resident at Arboretum Village, life has always revolved around storytelling.
"People would ask, 'How long have you been writing?' and I would say I was born with a pen in my hand," Joy laughed. "Someone once said, 'That's probably why your mother didn't like you,' and I thought that made a lot of sense."
With her infectious humor and quick wit, Joy doesn't just tell stories; she lives them.
Joy is an accomplished author with a collection of more than 30 books under her belt. Her work spans decades, and while most of her early writing focuses on bereavement, loss, and grief – a field she pioneered with her late husband, Dr. Marvin Johnson – her most beloved series is decidedly more lighthearted. Her BOOB Girls series (Burned Out Old Broads at Table 12) captures the essence of aging, friendship, and finding joy in life's final chapters.
"The purpose of all of those books is to make 'seasoned' ladies feel important and beautiful," Joy said.
Set in a retirement community not unlike Arboretum Village, the books are full of spunky widows who find themselves in murder mysteries and grand adventures.
"It's a whole lot like the Immanuel Communities, except that (the characters) frequently find dead bodies and beat the crap out of bad guys," she quipped.
Following publication of the first book in 2009, Joy received a special note from a fan.
"It was a white note with a bright red stiletto on it, and on the inside, it said 'Thank you for writing this book. Phyllis Diller'," Joy said. "I checked the address, and it was (actress and comedian) Phyllis Diller from Hollywood. So, I sent her a few of the things I had written on grief and asked her to endorse The BOOB Girls, and she did. On the cover of every BOOB Girls book it says, 'The BOOB Girls are the good girls. – Phyllis Diller.'"
Joy wrote exactly 12 BOOB Girls books (one per year) to coincide with the "Table 12" the characters sit at:
In 2017, a musical adaptation of the first BOOB Girls book was performed onstage at Omaha’s Circle Theatre.
Joy's life and work have long centered around community and compassion. With her late husband, she co-founded Centering Corporation, North America's oldest and largest bereavement resource center. The other nonprofit, Ted E. Bear Hollow (now part of the Collective for Hope), was created to support grieving children. The impact of her work in grief counseling is immeasurable, with both organizations providing comfort and resources to countless individuals navigating loss.
Even in retirement, Joy's commitment to helping others hasn't wavered. She leads two support groups at Arboretum Village for widows and for those dealing with suicide loss. Her deep understanding of grief and dedication to fostering community remain a central part of her life.
Joy's adventurous spirit is equally evident in her approach to independent living at Arboretum Village, where she and her husband, Ted, have made their home for over a decade.
"I've been here 10 years, with two years off to go RVing," she said, adding that she loves Arboretum Village as much as any place she's ever lived.
For Joy, the sense of community at Arboretum Village is everything.
"It's community, family, we have each other's backs," she said. "I love living here as much as I have loved living anywhere, which says a lot, both for Immanuel and for Arboretum."
While Joy continues to write and give talks about her BOOB Girls series, her days at Arboretum Village are rich with activity.
"I'm busy," she said. "I still do BOOB Girls talks at ladies' groups, retirement communities, and libraries."
She's passionate about fitness, too, often working out in the community's Thrive wellness center. And when she's not writing or exercising, she's spending time with her two granddaughters in Omaha or enjoying a social life that many would envy.
Joy and Ted are a testament to the importance of independence within a relationship. The two met online, proving that romance and companionship can thrive at any age.
"We describe ourselves as shoulder partners," Joy said. "He has his activities, and I have mine, and that's really the key to a good relationship."
At 86, Joy shows no signs of slowing down. She may joke about being on the "last page" of her life's story, but she is intent on writing that page with humor, love, and plenty of adventures. Her life at Arboretum Village, surrounded by a community she adores, gives her the freedom to embrace this final chapter with joy and grace.
In true Joy Johnson Brown fashion, she's writing hers with laughter, friendship, and a deep love for the place she calls home.
"We're not in the last chapter of life when we're in our 80s and 90s," she says with a knowing smile, "we're on the last page. So how you write that page is up to you."