Joyce DeFlorian Obituary (1930 – 2022) – La Crosse, WI

Joyce Dorothea DeFlorian

Joyce passed away, aged 91 years and 10 days, on January 4, 2022, surrounded by her family at Mayo Franciscan Healthcare after suffering a fall in November 2021.

She was born on December 25, 1930 in Victory, WI to William and Emma (Hass) Paggi. Joyce grew up in Victory and although she was an only child, she was surrounded by a multitude of cousins. There were a lot of stories about the Mississippi River, among other getaways. In 1948, she graduated from Viroqua High School, then worked for her father as an Assistant Postmaster at the Victory Post Office / General Store. In 1952, she moved to La Crosse to work for Northern Engraving. Joyce met Bernard (Bud) DeFlorian, and they were married on December 30, 1952 in St Charles in Genoa, WI.

Over the next 69 years, Bud and Joyce raised five children and raised 10 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Joyce was a working mother, office manager and accountant for their company, the Sinclair Bulk Distribution Plant. She also worked at La Crosse Rubber Mills, but her favorite job was as a waitress at the Ridgeview Inn. Joyce enjoyed the customers and made lifelong friends there.

In 1972 Bud and Joyce moved to a farm in the Bohemian Valley. For the next 46 years, Joyce was a loyal and hardworking member of St Peter’s Catholic Church in Middle Ridge. In 2018, they returned to La Crosse and joined Marie Mère de l’Eglise.

Joyce is survived by her devoted husband of 69 years, Bud; daughters: Julie Keitel, Jayne Jungen, Janet (Mark) Hemmersbach, Joleen (Robert) Trussoni and her son Jerome (Laurie) DeFlorian; grandchildren: include Seth (Melissa) Hemmersbach, Lori (Scott) Van Pee, Anne (Chad) Allen, Katherine (Joseph) Bollman, Brian Jungen, Jessica, Keighley and Ryan (Brooke) DeFlorian, Claire and Nicole Trussoni; great-grandchildren: Ethan and Caleb Hemmersbach, Connor and Carter Allen, Samantha and Addison Van Pee, Luke and Austin Bollman and baby DeFlorian due in February 2022.

She was predeceased by her parents: William and Emma Paggi; young siblings: Joan and William Paggi; son-in-law Hal Keitel and many beloved cousins; also, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Leonard and Donna DeFlorian, Francis and Beatrice DeFlorian, Mary / Vernon La Due and Robert Heller, Virginia and Dorwin Lord, Jean and Francis Nickelotti, Leona and Eugene Herlitzke, Agnes and Michael Lucey, Bernadette and Joe Hartley and Clara and Jim Clements.

Family and fun were of the utmost importance to Joyce. She would never turn down an opportunity to play cards, especially Euchre, Pinochle or 500. She was an avid Milwaukee Brewers fan and loved watching local talent on UW Men’s Basketball. Family was her life’s most precious treasure, and she was a loving, caring and dedicated mother and grandmother. There was rarely an event or milestone that she missed to celebrate the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren.

We miss Mom / Grandma and are eternally grateful for the traditions and love you have molded that will carry on through the generations of our family.

The family would like to thank the staff at Bethany St Joseph Care Center, Dr John Merfeld and colleagues as well as the staff at Mayo Franciscan Health 3rd Floor. Extraordinary compassionate care has been received from all of you.

A Christian funeral mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at Mary, Mother of the Church, 2006 Weston Street, La Crosse, with visitations starting at 11 a.m. Rev. Brian D Konopa will officiate. The family’s private burial will take place at a later date at St. Charles Cemetery, Genoa, WI. Due to the increase in the spread of the Covid, the wearing of a mask will be mandatory for those present. The service will be broadcast live on the parish’s YouTube channel, accessible at www.mmoclacrosse.org. Memorials can be made to Joyce’s name at the Bethany-St Joseph Care Center, Mary, Mother of the Church, or a charity of your choice.

Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services in La Crosse are helping the family. Online condolences can be submitted at www.schumacher-kish.com.

Posted by La Crosse Tribune on January 6, 2022.

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