Joyce G. Christiansen

Joyce G. Christiansen, 78, formerly of Greencastle, passed away surrounded by her children Tuesday morning, May 8, 2012, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.

Born Aug. 10, 1933, in Harris, Texas, she was the daughter of Allen Guynes and Elva Myrta Stanley Guynes.

She graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1954 and earned her master's degree in microbiology in 1955, both from the University of Houston.

She met her husband, Paul, while working at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis and they married in 1967.

After her firstborn, she chose to stay home to raise her children and then returned to work for DePauw University in 1985, first in the Registrar's Office and then for the last 25 years as the secretary for the Communications Department.

She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother, Stanley Karl Guynes, and her husband Paul in 2010.

She is survived by her brother Mark, her sons Paul Jr., Craig (Elizabeth) and Kyle (Misty), six grandchildren, Megan, Annika, Sam, Grant, Henry and Kate, and by special friends and relatives.

Joyce had a passion for education and for gardening and could turn any patch of dirt into something beautiful. She was dedicated to her department and always supported student performances, usually sitting in her back row seat, preferring to be inconspicuous.

She touched many lives over the years but none so much as her family's, who have lost an incredible Mom and Grandma. She loved them all unconditionally and relished every opportunity to spend time with them, whether it was braving Disney World or decorating cookies together on Christmas Eve. She will be missed.

A visitation is planned for 1-3 p.m. Saturday, May 12 at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, 602 E. Washington St., Greencastle, with a short memorial service to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Joyce G. Christiansen Scholarship Fund, c/o Putnam County Foundation, 2 S. Jackson St., Greencastle, IN 46135, the Joanne Haymaker Lights of Love Tree Grove through the Greencastle Parks and Recreation dept. or to The Jackson Center for Conductive Education, 802 N. Samuel Moore Parkway, Mooresville, IN 46158, where Joyce's grandson Sam is a student.