Nov 22, 2018

Joyce Giecek entered her heavenly home Tuesday, November 20, 2018.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Donald J. Giecek.

Joyce Elaine Kelvington was born August 4, 1941, in Canonsburg, to George and Doris Kelvington. She grew up on North Main Street in Washington with her brothers, Daryl and Rick Kelvington.

As a young girl, Joyce was a proud member of International Order of the Rainbow Girls, a service organization that instilled the virtues of hope, faith and charity in her life – virtues that would mold her future and define her life. She was a member of Meadow Lands United Methodist Church and attended Trinity High School, where she used her vivacious and spirited personality to lead her school as a cheerleader for four years. Upon graduation, Joyce attended Penn Commercial Secretarial School in Pittsburgh.

At age 20, she married her high school sweetheart, Don Giecek. Wide eyed and full of hope, they set off for new adventures in Washington, D.C. Joyce was employed by the U.S. government, eventually working at the Pentagon while Don began his long career as a civil servant with the Department of Defense. Don and Joyce moved to Centreville, Va., in 1971, and it was there Joyce’s greatest life’s passion of motherhood flourished and blossomed. Joyce was a stay-at-home mom, raising Donnie, Tracy, Robert and Brent, until 1980, when she was employed with Fairfax County public schools as a secretary at Clifton Elementary School. Joyce received the Human Relations Award for her staggering ability to communicate love, acceptance and kindness to children, parents and staff.

Joyce spent more than 25 years cheering on her children in baseball, football, basketball, soccer, cheerleading and wrestling. She committed countless hours of volunteering on the Little League board, Parent-Teacher Association and Booster Club. Joyce’s greatest joy in life was being a loving, funny, generous and devoted grandmother to Hannah, Olivia, Grace, Luke, Amelia, Jacob, Emily and Loki.

She is survived by her children, Don Giecek, Wes and Tracy Stickley, Robert Giecek and Brent and Maite Giecek. She is also survived by Daryl and Judie Kelvington, Rick and Linda Kelvington and many cherished nieces and nephews. She loved with her whole heart, was forever optimistic and shared compassion, empathy and guidance to countless souls on Earth. Joyce was a beautiful example of the resilience of the human body and spirit and a reminder that, with God, all things are possible. Joyce leaves behind a legacy of faith, hope and charity.

Services will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, November 25, in Crossroads United Methodist Church, Ashburn, Va. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you reach out to anyone who might be suffering in a time of darkness and remind them there is always hope.