Joyce Crawford

JOYCE CRAWFORD

Cedar Rapids

Joyce Ann Crawford, 79, of Cedar Rapids, died late Thursday, June 19, 2014, in her home following a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church by Father Chris-topher Podhajsky. Burial will follow in Czech Na-tional Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, where a rosary begins at 6:30 p.m.

Surviving Joyce are her husband of 61 years, Robert; two daughters, Mary Jo Crawford, Cedar Rapids, and Sharon Fitzgerald, Fort Dodge; and four grandchildren, Matthew and Derek Crawford, Cedar Rapids, and Jimmy and Maggie Fitzgerald, Fort Dodge.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Milo and Florence (Kilberger) Vanicek; and son-in-law, Jim Fitzgerald.

Joyce was born Sept. 2, 1934, in Cedar Rapids, and was a lifelong resident. She married Robert Dean Crawford on May 23, 1953, at Sinclair Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. Joyce was a self-employed book dealer and antiques seller. She was also the bookkeeper for 50 years for the local St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Joyce was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and the church's St. Bridget's Circle. She was president and a former member of St. Monica's Circle at the church.

Joyce loved working on her family genealogy and walking area cemeteries to record information found on headstones for historical purposes. She also enjoyed reading and going to auctions with Bob.

Special thanks to Dr. Jasmine Nabi and the staff at the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center as well as the caregivers at Hospice of Mercy. Everyone took such wonderful care of our wife and mother during her illness.

Contributions in Joyce's memory may be given to the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under "obituaries."