Father John Joyce died April 8 at the Hincke-Sense Home for Retired Priests in Belleville. He was 70 years old.
At his request, Father Joyce’s body  has been cremated,  and the cremated remains of Father Joyce were recently buried in a private graveside service in St. Patrick Cemetery in Ruma.

A Memorial Mass is scheduled at 7 p.m. May 10 at St. Bernard Church in Albers.

Father Joyce was ordained to the priesthood June 3, 1989 by then-Bishop James Keleher.
During his more than 26 years as a priest of the Diocese of Belleville, Father Joyce served as an associate at St. Peter Cathedral from 1989-1990; as an associate at St. Mary Mt. Carmel and St. Francis in St. Francisville from 1990-1991; and as an associate at St. Augustine in Belleville from 1991-1993.

As pastor, Father Joyce was assigned to St. Patrick in Ruma and St. Leo in Modoc from 1993-1998; in St. Boniface in Evansville and St. Pius V in Walsh from 1998-2009; St. Barbara in Okawville from 2009-2012; and St. Bernard in Albers and St. Damian in Damiansville beginning in August 2011.

Father Joyce was born in New York City on Nov. 16, 1945, the son of the late Gregory and Margaret (nee Dunn) Joyce. He was raised in St. Brendan Parish in the Bronx, New York and is a graduate of Cardinal Hayes High School (Bronx 1964), The Cathedral College (Manhattan, 1966), Conception Abbey Seminary (Conception, Missouri, B.A., 1970) and The University of St. Mary of the Lake (Mundelein, IL, M. Div. 1988).

He was diagnosed with cancer and moved to the Hincke-Sense residence March 8 and was expected to live a few months there.
However, his unexpected death took people by surprise.

No firm date has been established for his funeral liturgy but will be published as soon as it becomes available.
Father Stephen Poole will be principal celebrant at the liturgy to be celebrated at St. Bernard in Albers.
Bishop Edward K. Braxton will preside and pray the Prayers of Final Commendation.

The cremated remains will be buried at St. Patrick Cemetery in Ruma.