Joyce C. Geisler

Joyce Carole Geisler, age 75, passed away in her Bellingham, WA home surrounded by family on Sunday, February 2, 2014 after a recent and sustained illness. Born March 21, 1938 in Easton, MA to Matilda Pontes & Valmore LeSieur, Sr., she is survived by her brother Valmore LeSieur, Jr, of Easton, MA, sons, Marc Geisler, of Bellingham, WA, Scott Geisler, of Clinton, NJ, Paul Geisler, of Ithaca, NY, daughter Kim Bourne, of Middleboro, MA, and 8 grand children, Karin Bourne, Jason Bourne, Nicholas Geisler, Benjamin Geisler, Zoe Dietrich, Ari Geisler, Anna Rose Geisler, and Max Geisler. Her late husband and armed forces veteran, Klaus Dieter Geisler, predeceased her in 1994. Joyce attended Oliver Ames Sr High School in Easton, before matriculating to Bates College, in Lewiston, ME, where she majored in French & Education. She started her long and distinguished career as a teacher of French in New Haven, CT in 1960. Joyce and Klaus married in New Haven in 1964. A dedicated spouse and mother, Joyce raised her family and spent the bulk of her career as a teacher in Lakeville, MA, where she taught at the George R. Austin Middle and Apponequet Regional High Schools. As a teacher of French, Joyce was known for her love and passion for the language and life of France and was dedicated to teaching her students that French culture was an equally important adjunct to the spoken and written word. Her students knew Joyce as a caring and dedicated teacher with high expectations and a nurturing demeanor, dedicated to the overall purpose of learning and growth in all of her pupils. When not attending to her family or work, Joyce's primary passions in life were the Boston Red Sox and the culinary arts. A life long member of Red Sox Nation, she agonized during the lean years, but rejoiced in seeing her beloved Sox win 3 World Series in the last 10 years. An established and highly competent chef and baker, Joyce's immaculate kitchen was replete with the culinary technology and personal skill and knowledge that satisfied her friends and families for decades. As self-professed "foodie," she loved sharing keen insights on how a subtle technique or new gadget would work for just the right recipe. A lover of culture, Joyce regularly attended the Whatcom Symphony, films and other events with her friends, and traveled to Seattle to attend the theater. She was also an active member of the French Club that met at the Firehouse Cafe, and was recently appointed to the WWU Retirement Association Board. A memorial celebration of her life will be held at 1365 Roy Road, Bellingham WA 98229 on Wednesday, February 19 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local Hospice. Share your memories with the family at http://joycegeisler.tumblr.com/