Joyce Mae VanWormer, 89, of Norwich, New York, passed away on April 26, 2026 with dignity and grace. Born September 3, 1936, in Preston, New York, Joyce’s life moved with a quiet grace—rooted in home, guided by faith, and warmed by a kindness that made others feel they belonged.
Raised in Preston and born in her family home, Joyce graduated from Oxford school in 1955, carrying forward a steady devotion to the people and places that shaped her. Her days were marked not by fanfare, but by the gentle strength of showing up—again and again—for family, for work, for church, and for the small, beautiful routines that make a life.
Joyce worked for Norwich Shoe Company, Perry Brown School, the Mid-York Press, and finally Culture Kits of Norwich, NY. In each chapter, she brought the same dependable spirit—faithful in effort, kind-hearted in presence, and quietly cherished by those who had the good fortune to work alongside her.
On August 25th, 1956, Joyce married the love of her life, Ralph VanWormer, at the Norwich Calvary Baptist Church. Together they built a family life defined by devotion and enduring affection—one that made room for laughter, for everyday tenderness, and for the deep bonds that turn a house into a haven.
A member of the First Baptist Church of Norwich NY, Joyce’s faith was not simply something she held, but something she lived—through care, through constancy, and through the gentle way she treated others. She was beloved not for grand gestures, but for the steady light of her presence.
Joyce found joy in crochet, drawing, painting, and fishing—interests that reflected both her patient creativity and her adventurous spirit. Whether with needle and thread, pencil and paint, or a line cast into quiet water, she met the world with curiosity and calm, finding beauty in what could be made by hand and discovered by heart.
Those who knew Joyce will remember, too, the simple stories that somehow hold an entire person inside them—like the day Joyce baked cookies while six kids watched the birth of kittens. In that moment, as in so many others, her warmth and steadiness made ordinary life feel a little more magical.
Joyce loved her family dearly, and that love remains one of her truest legacies—cherished, enduring, and woven through generations. She is survived by her husband, Ralph VanWormer; her daughters, Debra Obrosky (Keith) and Janice Morrison (John); her sister, Catherine Braisted; her sister-in-law, Alberta Oralls; and seven grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, two great-great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Kenneth Oralls and Ralph Oralls, and her sister, Bertha Orr.
Calling Hours will be held at R.J. Fahy Funeral Home, 116 N. Broad Street, Norwich, NY 13815, on April 30, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. A Funeral Service will follow at the funeral home. A Committal Service will take place at Chenango Valley Cemetery in Binghamton following the funeral service.
