Joy Ann De Cleene of San Antonio, Texas entered into her eternal rest in Northeast Baptist Hospital – Surgical Intensive Care Unit, in San Antonio on May 13, 2017 at 7:26 am, at the age of 76, after a heroic effort to overcome a serious infection after surgery.

Joy Ann was born in San Antonio on October 7, 1940 to her parents Edwin Baxter Earnest and Grace Gillespie.  She married her beloved husband Henry Joseph De Cleene on August 29, 1956.

Joy Ann was a devout Catholic and attended Blessed Sacrament Church where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and was part of the VSP.  She worked in the Accounting Department at North East Independent School District and La Pryor ISD and has served Texas Department of Education for more than 30 years before retiring about 2 years ago.  She was also involved in the Moose Lodge and was a member of the Belgian American Club of Texas.  She enjoyed playing Bunco with a very special group of friends who started playing together more than 60 years ago and the group still has many of the original members to date.  Joy Ann was an avid traveler and was able to enjoy many cruises and trips to all parts of the globe.

Joy Ann is survived by her 5 daughters Cheree Walts, Diane (Steve) Wagner, Darlene (David) Brymer, Renee (Ricky) Hebert, and Julie (Dan) Lerma.  She is also survived by her step-mother Bobbie Earnest Koch and a sister Bobbie Lee Earnest (Kenneth) Mills, sisters-in –law Irene Mzyk and Virginia (Lee) Friederichs.

Grandma Joy (as she was affectionately called by her grandchildren) had 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews who all loved her dearly since she was actively involved in many aspects of their lives.

She was preceded in death by her husband Henry, her father Ed, her birth mother Grace, step-father Marvin Koch, a son-in-law Kenneth Ray Walts (42), a grandson John Henry Walts (20), a great-great-granddaughter Eleia Rose Eble (6 months) and a brother-in-law Frank Joseph Mzyk.

The De Cleene Family would like to say a special thank you to North East Baptist Hospital SICU and PACU doctors and nurses who gave Joy Ann the most excellent loving care with tremendous professionalism showing genuine concern for her to improve while allowing her large close family to have access to see her and be at her bedside to comfort and encourage her through her eventual passing into her eternal rest with our Heavenly Father.  We, her family, also thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the grace to endure and the comforting of the Holy Spirit.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Visitation
6:00 pm at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
600 Oblate Drive, San Antonio, TX 78216
Rosary to be recited at 7:00 pm.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Final viewing starting at 9:00 am at
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
Funeral Mass to be offered at 10:00 am

A reception in the church hall will follow the funeral mass

Interment
San Fernando Archdiocesan Cemetery #2
746 Castroville Road, San Antonio, Texas 78237
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 1:30 pm.

**While all are welcome, there will not be a procession to the cemetery.