Avis Lillian Joyce

Madison - Avis Lillian [Weeden], died on Friday, December 18, 2009.  She was born July 12, 1915 in the township of Bloom, Richland County Wisconsin to George and Sophia [Janney] Weeden. Avis graduated from Richland Center High School, finishing her formal education at Richland County Normal and Lacrosse 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 was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years James and their son John, her brothers Dwight and Don Weeden, sisters Helen Umbehaun and Evelyn Outhouse.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 21, 2009 at ST. BERNARD'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7450 University Ave., Middleton, with Msgr. 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 Street, 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.