Bernice Joyce

Born on May Basket Day, May 1, 1937, Bernie passed away peacefully on March 19, 2026, at the Pillars of Prospect Park in Minneapolis, attended to by her loving extended family.

Bernie grew up in Rochester, MN in a close family of 5 sisters and one brother. She graduated from Lourdes High School and completed her bachelor's degree at The College of St. Teresa in Winona, MN majoring in Mathematics. Following college, she worked for the Actuarial firm, Stennes and Associates in Minneapolis. She was proud to have been a founding member of St. John Neumann church in Eagan where she was active in supporting many services and activities of the church community. Bernie was very dedicated to its many missions and projects and was always one to help others.

Bernie was a wiz in the kitchen, known especially for her pies and cookies. Folks could expect to be treated to as many as 25 different varieties of Christmas cookies each year and she always gifted tins-full to lucky family and friends. Bernie was also known as a "crafty lady" knitting and crocheting hundreds of hats, mittens, prayer shawls and afghans, which she gave to family and friends and to people in need. Her quilts were amazing, perfection to the last stitch! She traveled to the Holy Land, Europe, Greece, and Africa. Although she was often quiet in conversations, she was always listening and deeply caring toward others. She was also quick with a sly joke when you least expected it.

Preceded in death by her parents, Leon and Ethel Joyce, sisters Marie Boler, Fran Daly, and brother Joey Joyce. Bernie is survived by her sisters, Margaret Joyce and Ann Christiansen (Dick), brother-in-law, Roger Daly, and by treasured nieces and nephews including the Boler family: Jean (John), Steve (Katie), Fran (Rob), Leon (Annamary), Jim (Maggie), Mary  (Ross), Margie (Bob), Patty, Ted (Lulu), Dan (Simona), the Fanning family: David (Lina), Peggy (John), Marie (Kirk), Martha (Wayne), Genny, the Daly family: Tom (Dionne), Tim (Lynn), the Sidoti family: Brian (Jay), Matthew, Patrick (Kate), and the McQuaide family: Deidre (Chris) plus numerous great nieces and nephews and many lifelong friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. John Neumann Church 4030 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122 on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with visitation beginning at 9 AM and funeral Mass at 10 AM.

In lieu of flowers, tribute donations in memory of Bernie Joyce can be sent to the ALS Chapter of Minnesota, http://web.alsa.org/goto/berniejoyce or Grace Hospice, www.gracecaring.org , or the charity of your choice.

The family is grateful to the amazing staff at the Pillars of Prospect Park for the past two and a half years of care and support and to Grace Hospice for caring so beautifully for Bernie during the past nine months and especially in her final 11 days.