Joyce Jones Czesnakowicz's Obituary
On August 23, 2025, the world lost a very unique person. Joyce Jones Czesnakowicz of Eustis, Florida and formerly of Oil City, Pennsylvania died unexpectedly. Joyce was born on June 6, 1952 to Robert “Tex” Jones and Mary Rogers Jones in Oil City. She was a 1970 graduate of Oil City High School where she was her class salutatorian, the yearbook editor, a majorette and an overall fully participating student. She was selected for a full scholarship and went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania. She held many jobs in her life but mostly as a talented graphic designer, both for agencies and as a freelancer. It was there that she met her husband Rick. She ended her career as a middle school math teacher. She lived in many places including Oregon, California, and Florida. She once lived on a house boat in San Diego harbor. That is, until she went on vacation and her “house sitters” turned off the bilge pump, allowing the boat and all of her belongings to sink to the bottom of the ocean.
Everyone who has called or texted condolences has a crazy story about Joyce. She was one of the “book smart”est people, but she was very short on common sense. She was a horrible driver. That is, if she could find her keys! She was an amazing, creative seamstress but her technical skills were lacking. She always had strings hanging, but to pull one would risk the entire outfit falling apart. She took every deadline down to the bitter end. Joyce pulled more all-nighters in life than she ever did in college by sewing on buttons, scotch taping hems, making final edits, or whatever it took to get the job done. But there was never any time to spare.
Joyce was such a creative soul. Her artistic achievements began when she was nine years old and won the contest on the Pittsburgh-based television show “Safari”. The prompt was to create an artistic rendering of the always heard but never seen Sarah the Elephant. Joyce had been taking lessons from Oil City legend Wealtha Van Ausdel, and her drawing won the grand prize! Her Halloween costumes, usually made for other people, were epic. There were Kermit and Miss Piggy, the Three Amigos, and The Maxx- just to name a few. She was an amazing cook. In addition, her design skills were admirable. She designed and built a garden that encompassed her entire back yard in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. It was magnificent!
In the past few years, she was showing some signs of forgetfulness and has become infamous for her crazy and usually very repetitive posts on Facebook. Her family asks that you remember Joyce for all of her amazing and quirky traits prior to her decline.
Joyce leaves behind her siblings Stephen Jones of Warren, PA, Jackie Bekka of Rockwall, TX, Jan Nordstrom of Richfield, MN, Pat Jones of Port Washington, WI, and numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews. In addition, Joyce leaves two step children; Nadia Czesnakowicz Morgan, her husband Drew and children Tristan and Mallory of Bend, OR, and Joe Czesnakowicz, his wife Angela Kline their daughters Vera and Zoey of Ventura, CA. She also leaves behind her beloved dog Zia.
She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother Michael, and her husband Rick. There will be no immediate service, but the family plans a memorial at a later date in her hometown of Oil City, PA.
In recognition of Joyce, please share a zany story that you cherish and remember the extremely kind, smart, beautiful, funny, and creative person who has left us. In honor of Joyce’s love of books, memorials can be made to the Oil City Library at 2 Central Avenue, Oil City, PA, 16301.
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