Joyce Louise Abraham

Joyce Louise (Katzenmoyer) Abraham, 92, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2024 in her home at the Highlands of Wyomissing. A long-time resident of Spring Township, Joyce was the beloved wife of the late Dr. James Albert Abraham. Born August 9, 1931 in Laureldale, Pennsylvania, she was the only child of Russell Eugene Katzenmoyer and Dorothy Mae (Smith) Katzenmoyer. Joyce was a 1949 graduate of Muhlenberg High School. She and Jim were married at Alsace Lutheran Church on August 25, 1956 and soon after moved to Philadelphia while Jim attended dental school. During that time, Joyce worked in the Accounting Department at the Pugh Foundation. Following Jim's graduation, they moved home to Reading where Jim opened a dental practice adjacent to their homes on Van Reed Road in Spring Township. Joyce was a true partner in the practice, keeping the books and filling in for staff as needed.
Joyce and Jim were long-time, active members of the Berkshire Country Club. They dined at the Berkshire with friends several times a week and hosted both of their daughters' weddings there in 1986. Joyce finally capitulated and adopted Jim's passion for the game of golf after their children were grown. She cultivated a tight-knit group of friends during her Berkshire days, several of whom she regularly met for lunch at the Ranch House and dinner at Victor Emmanuels up until the week before her death.
Joyce and Jim spent summers in their homes in Avalon, New Jersey. Joyce particularly loved their home on the bay in Avalon and could almost always be found in a lounge chair on the deck overlooking the water, in her bathing suit, reading a book. Fortunately, her children loved Avalon just as much and spent their summers living and working there.
Joyce and Jim spent many happy years in Harbor Ridge, a golf community in West Palm Beach, Florida. There Joyce enjoyed golf, bridge and many, many social activities with a whole new group of friends. They reluctantly left Harbor Ridge in 2008 after 15 years due to Jim's declining health and a hurricane that destroyed the Harbor Ridge clubhouse. Joyce had the opportunity to return to Harbor Ridge one last time with her children for Easter in 2020 where she reconnected with some of her dear friends still living in the community.
Following Jim's death in 2011, Joyce continued to live on Van Reed Road where she spent time with her devoted canine companions Mattie and Ellie, enjoyed her beautiful garden, and had regular get togethers with her closest high school friends. She attended numerous events as a proud grandmother at Lancaster Country Day where her 3 local grandchildren went to school. She danced the night away at two of her grandchildrens' weddings and spent lots of time in Avalon at homes now owned by her children, both in the summer and to celebrate holidays. She loved nothing more than being around a big table in Avalon playing a raucous game of dominoes with her entire family.
At age 91, she finally decided that living in a big house alone was more than she wanted to handle and moved into a warm and cozy apartment in the Highlands of Wyomissing. There she made yet another whole new group of friends who she dined with almost every evening. She spent much of her time sitting in a corner of her sofa reading novels, surrounded by a curated collection of the things that were important to her and made her happy. It was in that very spot that she took her last breath. She'd be very upset if we failed to mention that when the Highlands staff entered her apartment for a wellness check and found her, she was fully dressed for Sunday brunch, with her hair done and makeup applied!
Joyce is survived by three children: Lynn Alexander, (Jim) of Chevy Chase, Maryland; Susan Gebauer (Jay) of Avalon, New Jersey; and Dr. David J. Abraham of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the proud Mom Mom to 9 grandchildren: Kristyn Gebauer, Katelyn Gebauer (Matt Mauger), and James Gebauer; J.D Alexander (Michelle), Michael Alexander (Kristin), and Susie Alexander Patterson (Rivers); and Nicole Abraham, James Abraham, and Carlie Abraham.
Services and burial will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Olivet Boys and Girls Club of Reading and Berks County, 1161 Pershing Boulevard, Reading, PA 19611 or online at Donate Olivet
Stitzel Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc., Laureldale is in charge of arrangements.
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