Fugini

Joyce Deets Fugini, 87, of Cranberry Township, passed away at UPMC Passavant McCandless on the morning of Wednesday, May 15, 2024, following a brief illness. She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, sister and brother-in-law, as well as many adoring friends in the preceding days.

She was the daughter of late Helen (Rohrbach) and Charles Deets; sister of Janet (Major) McCollough; devoted wife of 54 years to her husband, Alfred, who preceded her in death; mother of Lisa (Kevin) Murphy of Land O’Lakes, Fla., Tom (Paige) of Mount Airy, Md., and Laura (David) Kurywchak of Cranberry Township; loving and devoted grandmother of Connor Murphy, Brayden and Tatum Fugini, and Michael (Sydney), Matthew and Natalie Kurywchak; sisters-in-law, Rose Rumbaugh and Sylvia Pennington; brother-in-law, Vincent; and many nieces and nephews.

Joyce was a lifelong learner and greatly valued the power of education. She was chosen to represent her graduating class at Karns City High School as valedictorian. Following high school, she attended Grove City College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce in 1958 and was a member of Alpha Theta Mu honor society and Gamma Chi sorority. Her career included teaching business education at Erie McDowell High School, working many years as a bookkeeper for Trybus Company Inc. and teaching evening continuing education courses at Community College of Allegheny County.

With her hobbies, she found joy in challenging herself to be fastidious with details and continually improving her skills. For many decades, she was passionate about quilting and created many artistic pieces, often tearing out and starting over if the corners didn’t meet exactly. She put this same energy into bridge games, reading and piano.

She had a servant’s heart and saw her purpose as helping others. As a daughter, wife, mother and grandmother, Joyce never tired of serving her family and placing everyone’s needs before her own. Her children will remember her tireless dedication to caring for their father as his health declined. She sought opportunities to help her children and grandchildren without needing to be asked, whether it was dropping off meals during a busy week, coming to the rescue countless times to babysit on snow days and care for sick kids, and even making the trip to her grandchildren’s bus stop so they never had to walk home in the rain.

Her grandchildren always will remember her as the grandma who hosted sleepovers, let them run through the sprinkler system on hot summer days, livened up holiday dinners with games and prizes, and always made sure there were cookies on hand. She volunteered at UPMC Passavant McCandless for many years following retirement, and spoke especially fondly of her time in the surgical waiting area.

As a friend, she will be missed by many who knew her from the days of raising her children in McCandless Township, her later years in Cranberry Township and Vincentian Villa, and from the many clubs and organizations in which she participated over the years. Always keeping busy, she made and kept dear friends through her bridge clubs, book clubs, North Pittsburgh Quilters Guild, and as a formidable Words With Friends opponent. In addition to many great friends, Joyce was especially close with her sister, Janet, and always looked forward to their FaceTime calls, visits and travels over the years.

The family wishes to thank the staff at UPMC Passavant McCandless for the compassionate care she received in her final days, particularly the staff of 4N Pavilion, the respiratory and palliative team, and Pulmonary Partners.

FUGINI — A memorial mass for Joyce Deets Fugini, who died Wednesday, May 15, 2024, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 28, 2024, at Divine Grace Parish, St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, 2535 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township, with private interment at Hemphill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to www.passavanthospitalfoundation.org.

Arrangements were entrusted to DEVLIN FUNERAL HOME OF CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, 2678 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township.

Online condolences may be given at www.devlinfuneralhome.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.