Joyce Alverna Foster

Joyce Foster was born Joyce Alverna Stecher in Hempstead NY where she grew up with her parents Vernon Curtis Stecher and Aleverna Madeline Buxton Stecher. Joyce was the oldest of five children, and is survived by her siblings, Jay Stecher, Linda Klenz, Karen Newton and Audra Gardner. Joyce came to Oregon shortly after graduating High School to visit for the summer, she quickly decided she liked the northwest and would be staying in Oregon. Her parents and 4 younger siblings eventually followed behind her and moved to the Beaverton area. She met her husband Donald (Don) Foster through mutual friends in 1980, and they were married September 4, 1982. Don and Joyce had a set of twins (Steve and Kati) in 1984. The kids were the pride of her life. Joyce was involved in the Girl Scout program for 5 years, she treasured summer time family camping trips, loved vacations with her mom and sisters, enjoyed kayaking and crafting, and eventually created her own small business selling cards at local craft events. Joyce worked as an accounting clerk for two different local law firms before being diagnosed with leukemia in 2005. She battled through several rounds of chemotherapy, and a received a stem-cell transplant from a generous anonymous donor in November 2005. The transplant saved her life, but brought with it many, many ongoing and related health challenges. Shortly before Christmas 2012, she contracted a virus that demanded medical treatments that would have involved extended care center rehabilitation, and at best case, a further loss in her quality of life. She resolutely decided not to accept that fate, and peacefully died a few days later in an extraordinary hospice setting at Hopewell house in the comfort and company of her family. Joyce lived long enough to hold her only grandchild, Isabella Boyce. Izzy was born a mere 11 days before Joyce’s passing, and has been a God-sent counterpoint to the sadness of the loss of a wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin, and friend to a grieving community. The family plans to have a celebration of life event in the spring or summer. The family welcomes remembrances by lighting a candle on this web site, and posting your memories of Joyce’s life. “Although it is difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.” Author Unknown.