Obituary
December 24, 2010
Obituaries
Joyce Elizabeth Marquez
Joyce Elizabeth Marquez was taken home to the Lord on Dec. 21, 2010, after a courageous, five year battle with ovarian cancer.
Joyce was born on Oct. 22, 1960, to Benjamin and Virginia Gonzales. She attended Santa Paula High School where, as a junior, she met David Marquez. The two sat near one another at that year’s football match between Santa Paula and Nordhoff, and David caught Joyce cheering for the wrong team. He asked her what she was doing and she responded, saying she didn’t know much about the game. Less than a year later, on Sept. 30, 1978, the couple was married. They welcomed their first child, Jennifer, in 1979, and their second, Christopher, in 1981.
Joyce was devoted to her family and to her faith. She was a well-known Sunday school teacher at El Buen Pastor in Santa Paula, a role she took pride in having. She cherished the opportunity to teach God’s word to the congregation’s children. Her spirit, smile, contagious laugh, and love for dancing left all who knew her eager to see her at gatherings. Joyce was also a devoted sister, and shared an undying love for her brothers, Benjamin and Patrick, and especially her sister, Irma.
She also loved Hawaii, and was proud of successfully climbing to the top of Diamondhead in 2008 while in remission.
It is possible that there was not a bigger fan of I Love Lucy than Joyce, whose sense of humor and wit matched that of the red-headed comedienne.
Joyce worked in banking for 24 years, serving among the staff at Bank of America for 18 years, and with the members of Santa Clara Valley Bank for the last five years.
Joyce’s strength and courage were unmatched and were an inspiration to so many. She refused to give up in her battle against cancer. Even when weakened by pain, her focus was on her family.
There are no words to describe just how much Joyce will be missed. In her absence, a portion of a poem is shared:
Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.
For I can’t count the blessing or love he has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Remember, I am spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.
Joyce was welcomed into Heaven by her father Benjamin, and her nephew, Joshua Flug.
She will be forever loved and missed by her husband David, daughter Jennifer and son-in-law John, son Christopher and daughter-in-law Deanna, as well as her grandchildren, Spencer, Makenzie, and Brooklyn, her extended family, and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank David’s sisters and brothers, and Joyce’s sister, Irma Flug, for their care, love and support. Gratitude is also extended to the congregation at El Buen Pastor, the staff at Santa Clara Valley Bank, some of whom donated their sick leave to Joyce, and to the staff and management at Oroweat, as well as Dr. Ann Kelly and the staff at Ventura County Hematology, and Dr. Linnea Chap with Premiere Oncology in Santa Monica. A special thank you is extended to Dr. Mike Tushla of Santa Paula whose care and house calls made a difference and meant so much to Joyce.
A private viewing will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 28th. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29th, at El Buen Pastor, located at 1029 E. Santa Paula Street in Santa Paula. Joyce will be laid to rest following funeral services at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery at 380 Cemetery Road, Santa Paula. A reception will follow at Life Way Baptist Church (formerly Westside) at 673 W. Santa Paula Street.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements under the direction of Funeraria del angel Stetler Mortuary, 128 S. 8th St, Santa Paula (805)525-5595.
