Joyce Lavelle Aldridge, 92, of Galesburg, passed away with her daughters by her side at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, July 21, 2023.
She was born August 18, 1930, on the family’s farm near Browning, Missouri, the daughter of James N. and Pearl Mundell. She married Albert L. Aldridge on January 21, 1950, in Beardstown, IL. He preceded her in death on February 14, 1985.
Joyce graduated from Browning High School in Browning, Missouri in 1948 where she played girls basketball and walked three miles to school each day. She helped her parents on the farm while growing up and enjoyed corncob fights in the barn with her four brothers and three sisters. After high school, she moved to Galesburg and worked for her sister and brother-in-law Marilea and Erwin “Rocky” Moeller who owned and operated Rocky’s Maid-Rite in Galesburg for 30 years. She then worked for the local telephone company and later at Churchill Junior High School in the kitchen where she retired in 1995.
She was a member of First Christian Church in Galesburg and was actively involved in the Christian Women’s Fellowship and Diaconate. Joyce was also a Cottage Gift Shop volunteer, a Galesburg Schools Reading Buddy, and enjoyed playing cards and league bowling. A very special thank you to Melissa Ruehmer and Patt Sutor for their friendship and love over the years.
Joyce is survived by two daughters, Julie (Jim) Duensing, Brentwood, Tennessee, and Tracey (Tony) Morrissey of Galesburg; five grandchildren, Heather (Matt) Harvey, Parker Duensing, Nicolas Sutor, Christopher Sutor and Joshua Sutor and two others who also knew her as “Grandma Joyce”, Katie Denisar and Adam Ruehmer.
She was preceded in death by her husband Albert Aldridge, one daughter, Susan Aldridge, and her seven siblings, Richard Mundell, Norris Mundell, Junius Mundell, Nelson Mundell, Marilea Moeller, Ruth Viviani and Phyllis Gooch-Dengler. We will all remember and celebrate the life she lived, the love she shared with others and the difference she made in our lives. Her smile and loving ways will never be forgotten, and she was a gift to all of us.
Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel. A funeral service will be held directly after visitation at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel. A burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Joyce’s name to the Fish Food Pantry in Galesburg. Online condolences can be made at www.h-p-w.com.
