Joyce Elizabeth Graves, 86, died on Friday, August 14, at Upstate Community Hospital surrounded by her family. Joyce was born in Syracuse to Raymond and Laura Wellner. She, her husband and two daughters lived in Fayetteville until 1985, then moving to Winter Haven, Florida where she lived for the past 30 years. Joyce formerly worked at Niagara Mohawk, and later worked for the Jamesville-DeWitt Schools. She enjoyed all kinds of craft projects such as knitting, sewing, needlepoint, quilting, and made many beautiful Christmas Ornaments for her and her family. She also would knit hats for premature babies, and was involved in collecting clothing for women’s shelters, and collecting supplies for animal shelters. Joyce experienced her first airplane trip in July when she moved back to Syracuse to live with her daughter, Diane. She was very proud that she “earned her wings”.
She was predeceased by her husband, Donald A. Graves and her brother, Arnold Wellner.
She is survived by her daughter, Sharon (Klaus) Hellmich of Louisville, KY and her daughter, Diane (Angelo) Kelly of Camillus. She has six grandsons, David (McKenzie) Kelly, Nicholas (Aisha) Hellmich, Matthew (Jocelyn) Hellmich, Christopher (Stephanie) Kelly, Robert Hellmich and Andrew Hellmich. She is also survived by three great-grandsons, Anthony Kelly, Brandon Kelly and Rafael Fetalver-Hellmich; a sister, Shirley Wellner; and two nephews, Ronald and David Wellner.
A calling hour will be from 10-11 am Thursday at Eaton-Tubbs Fayetteville Chapel, 7191 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. A service will follow the calling hour and burial will be in Onondaga Valley Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Francis House, 108 Michaels Ave., Syracuse, NY 13208 or the Humane Society CNY, 4915 1/2 W. Taft Rd., Liverpool, NY 13088.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the fourth floor at Upstate Community Hospital. We cannot say enough about the amazing care and compassion that was given to our mom and to all of us who were there each day. They were exceptional.