Joyce Westrich

Joyce Valeria Heuring Westrich, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, at The Arbors at Auburn Creek.

She was born Feb. 15, 1933, in Chicago to William T. and Evelyn Pohlit Heuring. She attended grammar school and high school in Chicago, later graduating from St. Mary's High School in Cape Girardeau in 1950. She attended night classes at Southeast Missouri State University for two years.

Joyce was married to LeRoy John Westrich on Oct. 14, 1950, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso, Missouri. They were married 65 years. He died March 31, 2016.

After their youngest child entered first grade, Joyce went to work at the Cape Girardeau post office in 1967 as a clerk/carrier. She was later promoted to tour supervisor and then superintendent of postal operations. She was appointed postmaster at Chaffee, Missouri, in 1989 and postmaster at Jackson in 1991. She served interim appointments as officer-in-charge at post offices in Oran, Sedgewickville, Fredericktown and Kennett, Missouri. She retired in 1995.

Joyce was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral. She was a volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Mary's Food Pantry and FISH Food Pantry.

Survivors include three daughters, Sharon K. (Don) Call of Cape Girardeau and Mary Sue (Neil) Conrad and Ruth A. (Jon) Parks of Jackson; two sons, John W. Westrich of Cape Girardeau and Robert S. Westrich of St. Louis; son-in-law, Steve Mueller of Cape Girardeau; sister-in-law, Hatsuko Heuring of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; 11 grandchildren, Chris (Matt) Lacy, Laura (Ryan) McClard, Jeff (Heather) Mueller, Donny Call, Angie (Eric) Olson, Matt Call, Caroline (Bryan) Coulter, Jonathan (Kimber) Parks, Mike (Jen) Call, Mark (Sarah) Call and Heather Conrad; 20 great-grandchildren, Nicholas McClard, Jocelynn and Justine Olson, Anna and Olivia Lacy, Sofia and Thomas Call, Lucas Call, T.J. and Amaya Releford, Cooper, Carter and Clara Call, Logan and Austin Mueller, Aiden and Addison Coulter, Brynna and Kynli Parks and Eli Rosenthal; and nephews, Glenn and Tim Heuring and their families of Rehoboth Beach.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy; parents; daughter, Diane M. Mueller; son-in-law, Larry D. Underwood; and brother, Clarence A. Heuring.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m. today, with a Knights of Columbus rosary immediately following.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Cathedral, with the Rev. Allan Saunders officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Mary's Cathedral or St. Mary's Food Pantry.

Online condolences may be sent at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.