Joyce M. Hecei, 91, of Warren, PA. and formerly of Sheffield, PA.
died Tuesday afternoon, November 11, 2014 at the John and
Orpha Blair Hospice Home after a brief illness. She was born
August 7, 1923 in Barnes, PA. Joyce was the daughter of Harold
W. and Grace E. Morley Miller. She was a resident of Sheffield,
PA. for over 50 years moving to Warren in 2009. She was a 1940
graduate of Sheffield High School and was employed with the
U.S. Forest Service at the Sheffield Rangers Station for 24 years
retiring August 20, 1993. Joyce was a member of St. Joseph R.C.
Church and a former member of St. Anthony Church, Sheffield
Senior Center and the Warren Community Center. She enjoyed
knitting, crocheting, reading, bowling, golf, playing cards, bingo.
She especially loved and enjoyed her two grandchildren and
great granddaughter.
She is survived by her 4 Children – Thomas Hecei and wife, Kay
of St. Peters, Missouri, Rick Hecei and wife, Patti of Cary, N.C.,
Sandra Hecei of Warren, PA., Timothy Hecei and wife, Donna of
Meadville, PA., 2 Grandchildren – Heather Smith and husband,
Greg of Cary, N.C., John “J.J.” Hecei of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, 1
Great Granddaughter – Lexie Smith of Cary, N.C., several nieces
and nephews. In addition to her parents, Joyce was preceded in
death by her husband of 66 years, Joseph N. Hecei whom she
married May 17, 1946 at the former St. Clara’s R.C. Church who
died April 1, 2013, 1 Brother – Harold W. Miller, Jr., 1 Sister –
Ruth Lewis, 1 Grandson – Adam Hecei.
Friends may call at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304
East Street, Warren, PA. on Thursday, November 13, 2014 from 6
to 8 P.M. where a vigil service will be conducted at at 7:45 P.M.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted Friday, November
14, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Joseph R.C. Church, 600 Pennsylvania
Avenue West, Warren, PA. Fr. James Gutting, Pastor of Holy
Redeemer R.C. Church, officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph
R.C. Cemetery. Those wishing to place memorials may do so
through American Diabetes Association, 1701 N. Beauregard
Street, Alexandria, VA. 22311, or Hospice of Warren County, 2
Crescent Park, Warren, PA. 16365, or a Charity of one’s choice. E-
mail condolences may be sent by visiting
I am so sorry to learn of Joyce’s passing. She was a beautiful lady. I met Joyce at the Warren Community Center where we played pinochle together on Tuesday. I kept up with you, Heather, through your grandma. I so enjoyed hearing about you and your little Lexie. We will all miss our pinochle partner. She was hard to beat at cards and was a wiz at adding up scores. We trusted her addition…she was never wrong, I am so glad I got to know her. She will truly be missed.
On behalf of my brothers, Rick and Tim, and our sister, Sandy, and our loved ones, thank you for the kind words. Mom always told us how much she enjoyed meeting with her friends at the center or the Moose or American Legion to play cards or bingo. When the doctor said she should not live alone any longer, one of her first comments was how much she would miss her friends there. But she made her decision bravely to go to the Blair House where Dad had been and completed all the paperwork just minutes before her passing. Please pass on our gratitude to her companios at the center as we know the weather kept many away that might have come to the wake.
You and your entire family are in our thoughts and prayers. May the memories of your mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother sustain you in your time of sorrow and loss. May God be your strength and bring you comfort.
Thank you so much, Bob and Mary. I think JJ would have made you proud, Mary, when he sang with Georgi during the service as he did with you during the service for Kay’s mom.