Joyce Ann Czeck

Joyce Ann (Dorma) Czeck, age 89, of Shoreview, passed away peacefully at her home on December 21, 2025, after less than a year-long battle with metastatic bone cancer. Her beloved husband, James "Jim" Czeck, preceded her in death by just a couple of weeks. Joyce was born on April 28, 1936, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She graduated from South St. Paul High School in 1954 and, the following year, married her high school sweetheart, Jim, on September 17, 1955, at St. John Vianney Church. Together they shared a loving marriage of 70 years, built on devotion, laughter, and deep family bonds. Joyce often said her happiest moments were getting married and becoming a mother. She was blessed with seven children and devoted her life to raising six of them. Her oldest child, Mary, died just six days after birth-a loss that deeply impacted Joyce, though in later years she found comfort in believing her daughter would welcome her in heaven.

Joyce valued faith, family, and friends above all else. She shared close and loving relationships with her family and maintained lifelong friendships with her high school classmates. Joyce was an active member of the Shoreview Neighborhood Homemakers Club since 1982 and a devoted member of St. Odilia Catholic Church, where she volunteered behind the scenes in the church office and helped with the annual fall festival.

Though she loved to have fun, she often said, "Everything in life would be fine if people just did it my way." She highlighted that love and agreement, are the keys to a successful marriage, noting that Jim agreed with her often. However, when Jim faced serious health challenges in later years, Joyce embraced the role of full-time caregiver with determination and love.

Joyce took pride in her recovery from alcohol addiction, completing a residential treatment program in 1976. She attributed nearly 50 years of sobriety to her faith in God and the AA 12-step program, in which she served as a sponsor to others beginning their recovery journeys.

Joyce had a lifelong appreciation for earning money, holding many positions including hat & coat checker, switchboard operator, and cleaning lady, to name a few. She was also a bookkeeper at the family business, Zeck's Market, from 1963-1965 and 1987-1993. She concluded her career with the State of Minnesota, processing income tax returns from 1995-2021 and earning frequent evaluations, noting 100% accuracy. Joyce took pride in a career that spanned decades, enjoying both the work and the people she encountered along the way.

Joyce truly loved life and especially loved food. With a big personality, she enjoyed being the center of attention, and was known never to miss an event. Joyce was happiest when surrounded by people-at parties, potlucks, and family gatherings-where laughter, conversation, and good food were always plentiful. She was best known for her Finnish flatbread, apple bars, spaghetti, potato salad, beef stroganoff, and canned pickles. She also had a particular fondness for sweets and was often lovingly teased in her later years about her donut and Dairy Queen diet.

Joyce enjoyed traveling, especially with Jim. Some of her favorite trips include seeing her country western favorites in Tennessee, learning to hula at a luau in Hawaii, surviving an earthquake in Mexico and connecting to her French-Canadian roots in Montreal. She took a tour of Italy with father Tom to celebrate his ordination and a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. In their later years, she and Jim loved shopping at the farmers market and taking in summer concerts at the Shoreview Community Center. Attending weekly Mass at St. Odilia Church, or in their home celebrated by their son, Father Tom, was of great importance to both Jim and Joyce.

She is survived by her children: Jim Czeck, Jr. (Rozie), Jennie Michels (Dan), Sheri Taddeo (Bernie), Father Tom Czeck, Lisa Westly (Chip), and Anthony Czeck (Leyna); her grandchildren: Katie Carlson (Reed), Bridget Hallstrom (Mark), Kelsey Macaskill (Justin), Nicholas Taddeo (Mariane), Julie Taddeo, Sophia Westly, and Benjamin Westly; and her great-grandchildren: Lauren, Molly, and Tommy Carlson; Jack and Noelle Hallstrom; Layton Macaskill; and Adam Taddeo.

She is also survived by her siblings: Marceen Morris and Diane Kaiser (Denny); brothers-in-law: David Czeck (Janey), Mike Czeck (Judy), and Henry Czeck (Charlene); and sisters-in-law: Maryann Jurek, Rosie Olson (Gary), and Annette Czeck. She was preceded in death by her loved ones who now welcome her home, including her devoted husband, Jim; daughter, Mary; parents, John Emil and Josephine (Lawrence) Dorma; brothers, Gerald and Roger; sisters-in-law: Mary Dorma, Darlene Dorma, Nancy Czeck, and Judy Czeck; and brothers-in-law: Dave Morris, Melvin Czeck, Carl Czeck, and Roy Jurek.

There will be a family gathering for James and Joyce on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Odilia Catholic Church, located at 3495 Victoria St. N., Shoreview, MN 55126. A luncheon will follow the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Joyce's name to Open Arms of Minnesota or Our Lady of Peace Hospice & Home Health Care.

Joyce will be remembered for her joyful spirit, her lively personality, her deep love for family, her unwavering faith, and the countless memories she created around tables filled with good food, laughter, and love.

If you would like to read the obituary for James, please click the following link:

https://www.washburn-mcreavy.com/obituaries/james-czeck/#!/Obituary