Joyce Heyne Day, 86, of Lambertville, MI, beloved wife, mother, grandma, and friend, passed away Friday, August 26, 2022, at her home. The daughter of Frank Jacob and Leota Harder Heyne, she was born on August 14, 1936, and raised in Toledo, OH. She married Charles (Charlie) Day on August 5, 1961, and together they raised their son, Charles H.
Joyce attended DeVilbiss High School, graduating in 1954, where she was an avid swimmer and on the synchronized swimming team. She fondly remembered her childhood, particularly the time she spent at the Maumee River Yacht Club on her father’s boats, each of which was successively named after her. She received a Bachelor of Education Degree from The Ohio State University in 1958 where she was also a proud sister in the Tri Delta Sorority. Joyce stayed involved with the Tri Delta Sorority Alumni Association for many years. After graduating, Joyce began her teaching career at Spring School in Toledo. She taught in the Toledo Public School System and Good Shepherd School on Toledo’s East Side for over 35 years, retiring in 2003. During her professional years, she was an active member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and served as the treasurer of the organization’s Gamma Beta chapter in Toledo for over 25 years. Joyce was also an active member of the local chapter of The P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization). She made many enriching friendships in this group over the years and was always enthusiastic and very proud of the work they did helping others.
In recent years Joyce became involved with the Maumee Valley Herb Society at Toledo Botanical Gardens. While she never claimed to be an avid gardener, Joyce always enjoyed learning and especially enjoyed the wonderful friendships she made in this organization. Joyce was a wonderful wife, mom, and grandma. She loved her family and loved being with them. She was always interested in what was going on in everyone’s life, but especially her grandson Jack. She was an excellent grandma who loved to read to Jack when he was little and always produced a freshly baked batch of chocolate chip cookies for every visit. As Jack got older, Joyce enjoyed teasing him if he slept in late and relentlessly inquired whether he had a girlfriend to get a good blush.
Joyce’s favorite spot was a wonderful place affectionately referred to as “the cabin”. A few years after honeymooning in the area, Joyce and Charlie built their family getaway up north on beautiful Suttons Bay in northern Michigan. The entirety of every summer and several winter vacations were spent there. The area’s natural beauty was matched only by the great friends and wonderful memories they made there over the decades. In retirement, Joyce and Charlie also made several trips to England to spend time with their dear friends there. Joyce is survived by her husband, Charles L.; son, Charles H. (Merri Lee) Day of Grosse Pointe Woods, MI; grandson, John C.; and cousin, Donna (Jack) Hill of Alton, IL. She was an only child and preceded in death by her parents.