Joyce was born February 1, 1929 in her parents’ home in North Dakota to Oscar Julius Tillisch and Emma Judith (Ahlman) Tillisch. Joyce had a happy childhood and confessed she was spoiled, being the youngest. She loved her parents and siblings dearly. She grew up in North Dakota and shared stories of sleigh rides and her mother feeding “hobos” as she hid behind her skirts. Her family then moved to Minnesota where she became acquainted with Morgan Flaherty whom she married at the tender age of 17 on September 24, 1946 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Shortly after they moved to Seattle, Washington where their son John was born and passed the same day. Karen was born 11 months later, also in Seattle. They then moved to New Richmond, Wisconsin where they owned a restaurant and had a son, Cornelius (Neil), and two daughters, Kathleen (Kathy) and Deborah (Debbie) in less than three years. They then moved to Minnesota where their last child, a daughter they named Cynthia (Cindy), was born.
Joyce kept extremely busy raising a young family and working as a manager in financial businesses throughout much of her life. She was an excellent organizer and natural leader.
In 1965 Joyce and Morgan moved to Arizona and fell in love with the weather and people. Joyce loved all people, no matter their circumstances and no matter where they came from. She made friends easily and welcomed them into her home and into her heart. Joyce loved games and played a mean game of scrabble.
Travel was something she and Morgan loved doing and they took their young family on trips from Seattle to Washington D.C., camping as they went. After the kids moved out, they went to Alaska, China, Greece and Europe to name a few. Probably her favorite thing to talk about was her family, and she took great pride in each of her children, grandchildren and her great and great-great-grandchildren.
Joyce will be missed by her friends and family. Namely, her daughters Karen Lane (her scrabble buddy), Kathy Lemelson and Debbie and Garth Bingham (son-in-law), and daughter in-law and son-in-law Andra and Charles Riegal and son-in-law James Mackey, along with numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Morgan; brother James, sisters Eveline and Doris; sons John and Neil and daughter Cindy Mackey; son-in-law Bud Lane, grandson Jason Robinson, grandson-in-law Brant Schroeder and great-grandson Adam Zimpleman.
