Joyce M. Helvig

Joyce M. Helvig, 86, passed away on Friday, August 11, 2023, at Freedom Village Nursing Home in Coatesville, PA. Born in Jersey City, NJ, Joyce grew up in Queens, NY.  She was the beloved wife of the late Thomas H. Helvig with whom she shared 58 years of marriage.

Joyce and Tom traveled extensively during his Navy career, and Joyce quickly became an expert at moving and unpacking everything within a week of the arrival at each station while raising three children.  She wanted to create a home, no matter how short the time was before the next move.  She became known for her decorating skills, making each home a place of serenity. After the Navy years, they settled first in Willingboro and then to her much-loved home in Mt. Laurel, NJ, where she lived for 37 years.  Joyce loved to read, especially biographies.  She loved sitting in her sunroom and watching the birds.  Joyce also loved to talk.  She had an ease about her when holding a conversation and could talk about anything and everything for hours.  She remembered everything and was the family’s memory keeper.  She could always bring everyone together, no matter how far apart in the world the family lived.  Whether it was for Christmas gatherings or summer visits, her home was always the best place to be.

Living in remote locations made it difficult to get around, so Joyce decided to learn to drive when she was 34.  She never enjoyed it and much preferred to be a passenger, but the freedom of driving allowed her to take advantage of enrolling in a dental assistant course.  She graduated at the top of her class, and she began what would be a 40 year career as a dental assistant.  Joyce thoroughly enjoyed her career until retiring at the age of 74.

Joyce is survived by her children Thomas Helvig, Sr. (Dolores) of Philadelphia, Cheryl McMenamin (Kevin) of Parkesburg, Carol Broch (Alfred) of San Francisco, and Steven Helvig of Mt. Laurel. Additionally, she is survived by nine grandchildren – Thomas, Jr., Steven, Matthew, Jeffrey (Kaitlyn), Michael (Laura), Lindsay (Joshua), Brent, Cheryl (Corey), and Thomas, and five great-grandchildren – Michael, Emery, Grant, Will, and Parker, and also two sisters - Ellen Abatemarco (Michael) of Connecticut and Linda Jones (Anthony) of New Jersey.  She is preceded in death by her sister Dorthea Wolff.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 18, 2023, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 107 S. 17th Ave, Coatesville, Pennsylvania, 19320. Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation period taking place from 10:00 AM until the start of the service. The interment will be private at Washington Crossing National Cemetery. Memorial donations in Joyce’s name may be made to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Wilde Funeral Home of Parkesburg. Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com