Joyce Barbara Ardelan (Behl), 93, formally of Lake Orion and Oxford, peacefully passed at home on March 1, 2024.
Born at home on LeBaron Street in Pontiac on July 19, 1930, she moved with parents Floyd and Grace Behl to a 10-acre farm on Casemer Road in Lake Orion. She was joined by two younger brothers Fritz and Mike.
Her early education began in a one-room schoolhouse on M-24 named Clark School. She walked to and from school every day and went on to graduate from Lake Orion High School in 1947.
She met the love of her life, Bill, while they were both working at Detroit Edison Co. They married on August 4, 1951, and after Bill’s time in the U.S. Army at Camp Polk, LA they returned to Lake Orion.
Joyce was a creative seamstress, decorator, and homemaker. After retiring from Orion-Oxford Community Credit Union, Joyce and Bill moved to Gladwin. There she became a quilter and made dozens of heirloom quilts.
When Bill died after 60 happy years together, she returned to the Oxford area and lived in Waterstone until March 2020, when she moved to Keego Harbor with her daughter, Nancy and son-in-law Mike and her best buddy, Hercules.
In her last years, Joyce was a knitter, a reader, and did exquisite embroidery. Her great-grandchildren called it “Grandma’s needling”!
She leaves beautiful memories for her surviving children, 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Joyce is survived by her children Linda Ardelan of Lake Orion, Carol (Mike) Caverly of West Branch, Larry Ardelan of North Branch, Nancy (Michael) Spencer of Keego Harbor; daughter-in-law Suzanne Ardelan of Oxford; grandchildren Carrie, Arlo, Noah, Ria, Sara, Tavio, Scot, Jessica, Kim, Libby, Jon, Julie, Staci, and Conner; great-grandchildren Taylor, Logan, Keane, Rowan, Leo, Emma, Harry, Aubrey, Eden, Silas, Augie, Mason, Wyatt, Greyson, Stella, and Serenity; brothers Fritz (Betty) Behl and Mike Behl.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband William Ardelan; parents Floyd and Grace Behl; son Gary Ardelan; daughter Janet (Scot) Wardrop.
Visitation will be held at Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors, 39 W. Burdick St., Oxford, MI 48371 on Thursday, March 7, 2024, from 4-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Funeral Home on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10 a.m.
Joyce and her husband William will be inurned in White Chapel Cemetery at a later date.