Joyce Marie Fritz

Joyce Marie Fortini Fritz went to be with her Lord on November 4, 2018, at the age of 78 in Citrus Heights, California. Joyce succumbed to an aggressive form of bulbar ALS, which robbed her of her voice and flute playing in her final year. She was born in Oakland, CA on November 23, 1939, to Willemine and Edward Fortini and grew up in the Oakland Hills. Joyce followed in her big brother Glenn’s footsteps and attended the University of California at Berkeley. There, she met her future husband of 39 years (on a blind date!), Robert S. Fritz, while she was in the Christian sorority Alpha Delta Chi and Bob was in the Christian fraternity Alpha Gamma Omega. Joyce and Bob settled in Mount Hermon, CA, and she taught third grade for several years. They moved to Citrus Heights in 1967, and she remained in that same house for 51 years where she passed peacefully at home.

Joyce was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, the most loyal of friends, and the first to volunteer her home for parties and entertaining. She loved to dress up and was known for her fun, sometimes outlandish costumes and accessories. As a pharmaceutical rep in her forties, she was enthusiastic about promoting Trojan condoms to doctors; she boldly and proudly wore condom packet earrings to all of her appointments! Her favorite color was RED; her sons remember growing up with red carpet, towels, red dinnerware and crystal ware, and more recently red accent walls in her home. Her faith, her church, and Mount Hermon Christian conference grounds were a huge part of Joyce’s life. Joyce was involved in countless ways at her church: choir, flute and piccolo playing during services and programs, Galleons Mariner’s ship, and missions trips, to name a few. Her two oldest grandsons have wonderful photos and memories of the week she took them to Mount Hermon family camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Joyce also leaves a legacy of musicianship to her three grandsons, whom she passionately supported, taking them to clarinet and cello lessons, and attending all of their school concerts. They are all three accomplished musicians: Ashton played clarinet, guitar, snare drum, and Granddad Bob’s tenor sax; Trevor played cello, stand-up bass, and now acoustic and electric guitar; Colton played cello and now stand-up bass. Additionally, Joyce could always be counted on to babysit her grandsons and was forever willing and eager to help with taking the boys to their doctor’s and dentist appointments. As empty nesters, Joyce and Bob committed to taking two international trips per year. When Bob passed unexpectedly in 2001, Joyce continued to travel with friends and on charitable mission trips. During her lifetime, Joyce travelled to over 35 countries, and had such experiences as kissing an elephant, riding a water buffalo, and posing with lions.

Joyce is survived by her son Kevin, daughter-in-law Sarah, and grandsons Ashton, Trevor, and Colton, of Folsom, CA; son Kent of Citrus Heights, CA; and brother Glenn, of El Macero, CA. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Bob. She also leaves behind beloved extended family: the Fortini, Rodgers, Bodin, Gerke, Jacot, and DeYoung families.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, from 4 to 8pm at Mount Vernon Memorial Park in Citrus Heights. Her Celebration of Life will follow on Thursday, November 15, 2018, at 11am at Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church in the main sanctuary, with reception to follow in the Family Life Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to http://www.mounthermon.org/give or https://www.christopherreeve.org/donate. Flowers are also welcome.