Joyce Louise Carpenter

of Arlington Heights

Joyce Louise Carpenter, née Roen, 91, of Arlington Heights, IL, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2022, surrounded by family. She was preceded into death by her husband of 65 years, Edward Carpenter; siblings, Judith (the late William) Eichenseer and Jerry Fasbender. She is survived by her children, Edward (Jayne) Carpenter, James Carpenter and Catherine (Carol Varner) Carpenter; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Kyle) Porter, Mary (Steve) Scifres; great-grandchildren, Ava, Harper, Kayla and Tyler; uncle, Jerry (the late Decky) Dailey; nieces, Lynn (Dan) Hammond, Dawn (Darren) Depies and Kristin (Todd) Waggoner; nephew, Kyle Eichenseer; many cousins and an abundance of life-long friends that she loved as family. Joyce was born on April 17, 1930, in Milwaukee, WI and grew up in Ladysmith, WI. She never lost, and remained proud of, her Scandinavian Wisconsin roots even after her family moved to Rockford, IL, where she attended Rockford West High School and met her sweetheart, Ed. Joyce attended the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee and later joined Ed at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. They married in 1951 and, after a brief stay in Augusta, GA for Army duty, settled in Arlington Heights. After wrangling her children into their late teens, Joyce went back to school and obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Psychology (Magna Cum Laude) from Loyola University and her master’s degree from Northeastern University. Joyce opened her private counseling practice specializing in helping cancer patients and their families, grief counseling, visualization therapy and healing touch. Joyce was a woman of deep faith who kept the Lord at the forefront of everything she did and was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church. She volunteered with several charitable organizations, providing both her time and counseling services. Joyce was an artist who had trouble selling any of her paintings saying they were like children to her. She loved music, was a self-taught guitar player and could cut a mean jitterbug back in the day. She enjoyed her travels to Hawaii, Alaska, Europe and all points throughout the continental United States. She loved family get togethers, being outdoors in the woods, cold and snowy winter weather, any time she could spend “up north,” golf, playing bridge, reading, morning coffee with her friends at the Dunton House and lunch with the Lunch Bunch. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. A deep and heartfelt thank you to Angie and Tangie, the amazing angels who provided all of us, especially Mom, with support, companionship, grace, humor and love, enabling us to keep Mom at home until the Lord called her to Heaven. We are forever grateful, and you will always be members of our family. If you so choose to honor Joyce, please consider volunteering your greatest gift, time, to a charity of your choice, or simply toast her with a cup of coffee. A Celebration of Life service will be held later in the year.