A beautiful spirit & consummate caregiver, Rita Catherine Joyce Patient touched the lives of all she knew. Proud wife, mother & grandmother, she passionately supported her family in all of their endeavors. She enjoyed & treasured the blessings of many lifelong friends in Minnesota & Texas & her travels to points beyond. Rita earned her nursing degree from the College of St. Catherine & offered comfort & support to all placed in her care, especially elementary school children. She always greeted strangers with an encouraging word & a kind smile. Rita passed away peacefully on 11/29/09 surrounded by her loving family. Rita is survived by her devoted husband of 39 years, Greg; her 3 children, Amy (Bjorn) Larsen, Greg (Noreen) & Melissa; her 4 grandchildren, Samuel, Katherine, Emma & Olivia; her mother, Leona Joyce; 9 siblings, Mary Joyce, Patrick (Joan) Joyce, Paul (Betty) Joyce, Thomas (Judy) Joyce, John (Linda) Joyce, Sheila (Gordon) Bonine, Michael (Cheryl) Joyce, Monica (Gregg) Schaner & Francis (Lisa) Joyce; her sister-in-law, Marianne Mohrlant; brother-in-law, Paul Patient; & many cousins, nieces, nephews & friends. Memorials preferred to www.liferaftgroup. org, an organization supporting those with GIST or to St. Stanislaus. WULFF GODBOUT 651- 224-4868.
