Joyce Ann Rives Kussad

She was born in Borger, Texas, on July 27, 1947, to William and Mattie Rives.

Joyce moved around extensively because of her father’s employment with Phillips. After graduation from Sam Rayburn High School, she attended the University of Texas at Austin where she met the love of her life, Isam Kussad.

Joyce was a long-time small business owner in the Austin area guiding many people into the field of Court Reporting. She believed strongly in education and made it her mission to pass that on to her children and grandchildren as well as others in the community. She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, and Nana.

She was the rock that held this family together and created many special family traditions. Family was very important to her. She instilled an independent spirit in each of her children and grandchildren. She did her best to ensure that each of us had the ability to be successful in life.

She found great joy in spending weekends and summers with her Sawyer, the light of her life, and tutoring him because she knew he would accomplish great things with the right foundation. She made it a point to spend quality time with her family by planning family get-togethers and wonderful vacations.

She comforted her family in times of sickness and we tried to return that comfort to her when it was needed the most.

Even as a young woman she had a strong faith in God. As an adult she converted to Catholicism at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. She loved being a part of the church community. We find comfort in knowing that she is in a place of Heavenly peace and everlasting life.

Her presence in our lives will be missed abundantly. Her influence on our lives has been immeasurable. She was a caring and loving force to be reckoned with and may we carry out that spirit in our lives moving forward.

Joyce is survived by her children, Aisha, Ziad (wife Lori), Rhonda, and Tabriah and son-in-law Matthew. She was affectionately known as Nana to Zachry (wife Amanda), Kayla (husband Nick), Tyler, Thomas, Sawyer, Kiersten, Kaylinn, Keegan and Klaire. She was also great-grandmother to Natalie, Eva and Caroline, and Nickalus, Noah and Nash. She is survived by her brother, Rick Rives (wife Vickie). She is preceded in death by her husband, Isam Kussad, her parents William and Mattie Rives and brothers Danny and Dennis Rives.