Joyce Marie Weitzel, devoted wife, mother and grandmother died peacefully surrounded by her family on February 2, 2019 at Tidewell Hospice House in Port Charlotte, Fl after a brief illness. Joyce was born April 3, 1931 in Lorraine OH but spent the majority of her childhood in Flint Michigan graduating from St. Mike’s Catholic High School. Following graduation she worked in the pathology office at Flint Osteopathic Hospital where she met the true love of her life, Dr. John Weitzel.
Their mutual strong Catholic faith and love of God found them meeting for daily Mass at St. Mike’s. After their marriage on Oct. 4, 1952 they relocated to Harrison, MI where they created and nurtured a large and loving family.
Her greatest gift and accomplishment was raising eight strong and independent children. She enjoyed sharing and talking of their accomplishments as well as those of her nineteen grandchildren. The loss of her son, Patrick at 15 and her husband Dr. John at 62 was a true test of her faith but she persevered and there was never a time when you couldn’t find a rosary at her bedside.
For the last twenty four years, Joyce split her time between Venice Fl and Harrison MI. Her love of travel could find her camping in Grand Maris, exploring the Rocky Mountains, enjoying the beaches and jungles of Costa Rica or sailing down the Rhine in Germany. She embraced the arts and loved any kind of music, whether at the local Wheatland concert, or a broadway show at the Engelwood Performing Arts Center or singing around her player piano.
Joyce enjoyed a great book, golfing and quilting. She was a life-long member of St. Athanasius church, choir and Anna J Guild as well as St. Raphel’s in Engelwood Fl. , served as a hospice volunteer, was a member of the Harrison Women’s Association, Clare County Crazy Quilters and also the Clare Hospital Auxiliary.
She is survived by her sister, Rose Marie Stevens of Harrison; her son, Tim(Barb) of Delta, CO, their sons Patrick and Luke; daughter Maggie (Bob) of East Quogue, NY, their son Blane and daughter Carly; her daughter Denise (Tim) of Harrison, MI, their daughters Katelyn (Jesse) and Lizzie; son Marty(Maureen) of Saratoga, NY, their daughters Meghann(Matt) and Allison (Matt) and son Kress; son Andy, Placida, FL and his son Stefan and daughter Gabrielle; son Dave(Caty) of Williamsburg MI and their sons, Sean, Casey, Michael and Noah and daughter Emily;daughter Mary(Fred) of Harbor Springs, MI and their sons John and Sam and daughter Maggie. A celebration of life memorial Mass will be held on August 3, 2019 at St. Athanasius church in Harrison, MI at 12noon. Visitation with family will be held in the gathering room from 10am-12noon.
Those wishing to give a memorial gift in Joyce’s memory can consider Woodland Hospice House, 2597 S. Meridian Rd. , Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 or Tidewell Hospice House, 1158 Veronica St., Pt.
Charlotte, FL 33952 or the building fund for Harrison Community library. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Joyce Marie Weitzel please visit our Sympathy Store.
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