Joyce A. Thelen

Our devoted mother, sister, and grandmother, Joyce Ann Thelen, went home to the Lord on April 22, 2021 in the tender care of her loving family.

Joyce was born on March 8, 1943 to Peter and Rose (Spadafore) Felice in Lansing, Michigan. She was united in marriage with the love of her life, Thomas Norman Thelen, on November 10, 1962. They moved to Bay City in 1977 where Joyce faithfully supported her husband as he grew their family business. They raised three sons together who were her true pride and joy in life.

Joyce was happiest in the kitchen making a home cooked meal for her family (you'd be hard-pressed to find a better homemade spaghetti sauce or Christmas cookie than hers), being grandma to her "grands and greats," spending time up north at her cabin, and planting her vegetable garden each summer. She was a big Elvis fan and loved playing a game of video poker at the casino. She and her husband traveled the country in their motor coach and enjoyed spending winters in sunny Florida. Above all else, Joyce dedicated her life to family and God.

She is survived by her sons, Joseph (Kerry), Patrick (Marianne), and Michael (Sheryl) Thelen; siblings, Luci (Ken) Lenneman, John (Joyce) Felice, and Joe Felice; nine grandchildren, Angela (Shawn) Gilson, Kristina (Ryan) Craves, Melissa (Rich) Spyhalski, Lindsay (Dr. Joseph) Vanfleteren, Hannah, Taylor, Thomas (Taylor), Sydney, and Noah Thelen; twelve great-grandchildren, Henry and Patrick Gilson; Grayson and Gavin Gerard; Beau, Theodore, and Sylvie Vanfleteren; Leighton, Remington, and Lienna Thelen; Rylan and Payton Craves; two step-grandsons, Drew and Eric Hanover; two step-great granddaughters, Claire and Lydia Spyhalski and many nieces and nephews. She was welcomed into Heaven by her husband Thomas, parents Peter and Rose; mother- and father-in-law Ernest and Elda; and special aunts Mary, Julia, and Virginia Spadafore.

The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Corpus Christi Parish-Holy Trinity Church. The celebrant will be Rev. Robert J. Kelm with the Rite of Committal following at Calvary Mausoleum. The family will be present at the Gephart Funeral Home to receive family and friends on Monday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. Joyce will be taken to the church on Tuesday  to lie in state from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider donations to Camp Fish Tales in Pinconning, Michigan or Brian's House.