(November 2, 1938 - Decmber 6, 2014)
Word has been received of the death of Sister M. Joyce (Troyer) who died at 5 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2014, in Saint Mary’s Convent, Notre Dame, Indiana.
During her 55 years of religious life Sister Joyce was involved in a variety of ministries. In 1961 she began as an elementary school teacher in Flint, Michigan, and for the next 20 years taught in the primary grades of the schools in the Midwest. Then because of health issues that plagued her throughout her life she was unable to continue even though she is quoted as saying, she loved every minute of this ministry. From teaching children in the primary grades to teaching adults in the Adult Basic Education program in Elkhart, Indiana, was a leap of faith, but Sister Joyce made the successful transition and for 10 years taught mathematics, English as a second language, and prepared deaf persons for their GED in that adult education program in Elkhart.
This experience in adult education was the perfect preparation for her next ministry which was at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. Here she resurrected their dormant educational program that was first designed to help new employees become proficient in English. Under Sister Joyce’s creative skills the program received new life and was expanded in a partnership with the South Bend Community School Adult Education program. The new program was designed to meet the individual educational needs of each participant. Sister Joyce took great pride in the progress the students made and kept careful documentation. Because of the partnership with the public school many resources were available to her students, such as being eligible to earn a GED. Sister Joyce described some of the successes of the students in the program: “My oldest graduate was 75 years old. Many others went on to further their education some becoming LPNs or dietary managers in nursing homes. Their success was the only gratitude I needed.”
As with the other transitions in Sister Joyce’s life, her resignation as director of this program was driven by the development of serious health issues and so for her new assignment she became a patient on the fourth floor of Saint Mary’s Convent. Not to be discouraged she wrote of this move, “My years at Holy Cross Living Center and the Alzheimer unit at Saint Joseph’s Care West as well as my four units of clinical pastoral education has prepared me well for my ministry on the fourth floor of the convent. I even get a chance once in a while to teach some English as a second language. It doesn’t get much better than this.” Though she wrote in glowing terms of this last transition, it was a difficult change and caused her much sorrow as she gave up her active ministry life.
While Sister Joyce worked at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center Adult Education program she lived in a small apartment close to the hospital. Because she loved nature, particularly birds, she was able to have several parakeets to keep her company. She joined a small group of bird lovers who shared common interests and friendship.
The Mass was something she looked forward to each day and on days she was well enough to come down to the church to worship with the community gave her great joy. On those occasions she bravely put on a serene exterior though physically and emotionally it was often a challenge. God walked with her each day. She is now resting in peace.
Funeral arrangements for Sister Joyce are as follows: Reception of the body and wake on Thursday, December 11, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. with the Mass of Resurrection on the same day at 1:30 p.m. All of these ceremonies will take place in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto. May Sister Joyce rest in peace.