Joyce Marie (Fehrenbacher) Leist, 66, of Olney, Illinois, passed away on Friday, June 26, 2026 at Delmar Gardens in Chesterfield, Missouri, after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

Joyce was born September 17, 1959 in Olney, Illinois, the daughter of Savern John “Steve” and Margaret (Gosnell) Fehrenbacher. She was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Church in Olney. She attended St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from East Richland High School in 1977. She proudly graduated from Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Evansville, IN in 1980 and later furthered her education with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. She was a dedicated, compassionate RN for 41 years, first at Richland Memorial Hospital and Weber Medical Clinic in Olney and later at Flora and Effingham Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. She was an advocate for her patients and cared for them like they were family. Joyce loved serving her community and she did not know a stranger. She left an indelible mark on the heart of those she cared for.

Above all else, Joyce loved her family. As the youngest of five children, she was known to be stubborn and ornery at times, but she loved her siblings unconditionally and deeply cherished her many nieces and nephews who lovingly called her “Aunt Jo-Jo”. She was a devoted mother and fondly remembered her years of raising her children as the best years of her life.

Years were spent making memories at sports fields, gymnasiums, swimming pools, and dirt bike tracks during endless sports activities; during summers at cabins on both Vernor and Borah Lake; while picnicking and mushroom hunting in the family woods; camping and canoeing trips at the Current River; vacationing at Disney World; and during beach trips to Gulf Shores, AL.

Her favorite day of the year was Christmas morning as she loved spoiling everyone with far too many presents. She found joy in cooking her famous lasagna and chili for those she loved. She spent many happy years with her late fiancé and soulmate, Mike. But last and certainly not least, her most cherished role was “Grammy” and soaking up every moment with her grandchildren.

Joyce is survived by her son, Derek (Katie) Leist of Nashville, TN; daughter, Deidre (Dan) Brown of Ballwin, MO; grandchildren, Everly and Lilah Leist and Harper and Declan Brown; siblings, Dolores Amerman, Karen (Jim) Scherer, and John Fehrenbacher; many nieces and nephews and even more great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; fiancé, Michael W. “Mike” Greenwood; brother, James “Jim” Fehrenbacher and sister-in-law, Sandy Fehrenbacher; brother-in-law, Sam Amerman.

Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney has been entrusted with arrangements.

A Memorial Mass will be held for Joyce at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olney, with a visitation beginning one hour before service time at the church.

Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Olney.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Joseph School Foundation Trust.