Joyce, Avis Lillian
MADISON
Avis Lillian (Weeden) Joyce died Friday, Dec. 18, 2009. Avis now born July 12, 1915, in the township of Bloom, Richland County, to George and Sophia (Janney) Weeden. Avis graduated from Richland Center High School, finishing her formal education at Richland County Normal and La Crosse State with a teaching degree. As a teacher her career spanned a period from splitting wood to heat a one-room schoolhouse, to teaching in the Madison Public Schools. A lifetime of volunteer work with various religious, military and community organizations capped a wonderful life dedicated to family, community and her faith. On Feb. 18, 1941, she married James Joyce. Together they raised six children, Lois (Kent) Montague, Jim (Judy), Tim (Jan), Jerry (Nancy), Casey (Brenda) and John. They had nine grandchildren, Jennifer (John Walterscheit), Scott (Laurie) Montague, Brian Joyce, Kevin (Kate) Montague, Brigit, Jim, Joe, Ian and Haley Joyce. Great-grandchildren, Austin Martinez, Grace and Austin Montague, and J.P. Walterscheit complete the fourth generation. Avis loved music; she taught herself to play the piano and organ. She loved to sketch and paint, as well as being a talented seamstress and quilter. She knew every verse to the “Golden Oldies,” as the staff at St. Mary’s will attest to. We will remember mom and grandma filling our freezers with apple pies. Avis loved her family, her church and country. She now preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, James; and their son, John; her brothers, Dwight and Don Weeden; and sisters, Helen Umbehaun and Evelyn Outhouse. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, at ST. BERNARD’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7450 University Ave., Middleton, with Monsignor Douglas Dushack officiating. There will be a visitation one hour prior to services at church on Monday. Memorials may be made in memory of Avis to St. Mary’s Foundation, 700 S. Park St., Madison, WI 53715. Our family would like to thank everyone at St. Mary’s Care Center for their loving and compassionate care of our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.Cress Funeral and Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434 www.cressfuneralservice.com