Joyce S. Sten

Joyce Louise (Smith) Sten, 87, passed away on February 22, 2026, at Freedom Village in Coatesville, PA. She was the loving wife of Arnold (Arnie) J. Sten, with whom she shared 67 years of marriage.

She was born on March 27, 1938, in Elkton, Maryland, as the only child of the late John Starrett Smith and Avazell (Rhudy) Smith.

She grew up in North East, Maryland where her father and grandfather, Walter I. Smith, owned and operated a lumber yard. Joyce graduated from North East High School as valedictorian of the class of 1956. She attended Washington College for two years before marrying Arnie in 1958. She lived in the Triple Cites area of upstate New York while Arnie worked for General Electric in Johnson City. Following the subsequent birth of 3 daughters, the family moved to Downingtown PA when Arnie was transferred by GE to Valley Forge in 1967.

Joyce and Arnie became members of Hopewell United Methodist Church in 1967, where their family enjoyed many years of worship, Sunday School, youth and adult fellowship, as well as numerous small groups, retreats and ministries, including the Passion Play. She enjoyed helping with a young adult Sunday School class for a number of years. Her greatest involvement was with the Hopewell Care and Prayer team, spending countless hours writing encouraging notes, and visiting and calling those in need, as well as doing whatever needed to be done to support and encourage parishioners and pastors alike. Making and serving food was another one of her special gifts of service.

At the community level, she utilized one of her greatest gifts, compassion. Joyce was a lifetime charter member of the Uwchlan Ambulance Corps and served as an ambulance driver for the ambulance crew for several years. She also spent many years delivering meals to elderly people and shut-ins with Meals On Wheels in Downingtown. She loved spending time at the Jersey Shore and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Throughout her life she had many close friends and enjoyed spending time with them. She dearly loved her 3 daughters and their families, enjoying all their activities and being with them whenever possible. She was a devoted daughter for her mother, who passed away in 1971 following a long battle with multiple sclerosis. Following her mother's death, she also looked after her father and became his primary caregiver in her own home for almost a year before his passing in 1996.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Arnie; three daughters, Susan Eisenhauer (Don), Amy Sten, and Julia McCormick (Denis); three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by one grandchild, DJ McCormick.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Friday, February 27, 2026 at Hopewell United Methodist Church, 852 Hopewell Road, Downingtown. Family and friends will be received from 2:30-3:45 p.m.

Interment will be private with the family.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Joyce's memory to one of the following:

• Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607

• Brandywine Valley SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA, 19380-4045

• Hopewell United Methodist Church, 852 Hopewell Rd., Downingtown, PA 19335