A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 10 at Catherine’s Residence chapel. She wished to be buried in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where she spent many years of her early life. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith on Jan. 19.

Sister Joyce was born on Aug. 26, 1950, in Kansas City, Missouri, and baptized Joyce Ann Marie. She was preceded in death by her parents, Luther Arden and Violet Marie Kurtz Christy.

She entered the Sisters of Mercy in Frontenac in 1991. She was received in 1994 and professed her temporary vows on Aug. 24, 1996. She made her perpetual profession of vows on Oct. 28, 2000, at the motherhouse in Frontenac.

Sister Joyce received her bachelor’s degree in secondary education at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas, in 1973. On May 5, 2004, she was licensed by the Missouri State Board of Health after completing her studies in the field of physical therapy at St. Louis Community College.

Her ministry included teaching in elementary education in Concord Hill, St. Louis and New Orleans. She served as a physical therapist at Surrey Place in Chesterfield from 2004-05 and Mercy Hospital in Independence, Kansas, from 2009-10. While she resided at St. John’s Convent of Mercy in Springfield, Missouri, she served at Life Care Center in Waynesville from 2011-12 and St. John’s Mercy Villa in Springfield from 2012-13. At the time of her passing, Sister Joyce was serving in a PRN position at Life Care Center of America in St. Louis.

She lived in community and shared with the senior Sisters of Mercy at Catherine’s Residence from 2013 until the time of her death.

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.