Joyce Swierbut Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Joyce Swierbut, age 78, passed away Tuesday July 6, 2021. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Stella (Jelski) Swierbut. Joyce is survived by her husband, William Cunningham; sisters Rita (Rob) Colwell and Christine O’Donnell; nieces Cedar and Willow O’Donnell; and special cousin and friend, Janice Uzarski. Joyce was a longtime resident of Grand Rapids. She attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Mt. Mercy Academy in 1959. She graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh where she earned a master’s degree in education. Joyce taught school in Pittsburgh and Coopersville, Michigan before becoming a probation officer at the Kent County Juvenile Court in Grand Rapids, where she worked until her retirement in 2001. Joyce had a strong interest in the preservation of Michigan native plant and animal species. She was a member of the Land Conservancy of West Michigan, The Nature Conservancy, and Michigan Audubon. In 1995, Joyce completed the Master Gardener course at Michigan State University and began converting her yard to native Michigan trees, shrubs, and flowers to attract birds, butterflies and pollinating insects. During her retirement, Joyce donated countless hours of volunteer time to non-profit organizations. She did volunteer work for the Land Conservancy of West Michigan and worked for more than ten years as a volunteer in the Grand Rapids City Archives where she identified and organized thousands of historical photographs. Joyce was a person of faith who was active in the work of her church. She was a member of the Prison and Jail Ministry, a Eucharistic Minister at Mercy Health Hospital, a Scripture reader at church, and a reading tutor at Sacred Heart School. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday July 15 at 11:00 AM at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, where she will repose one hour prior to Mass. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Sacred Heart Academy or the Land Conservancy of West Michigan.

Tributes

Joyce Swierbut

March 11, 1942 - July 6, 2021