Joyce L. “Joy” Reid

Joyce "Joy" Lea Reid (Lesko) is now an angel with the Lord, having passed away on Friday, August 19th, 2017 after a brief and unexpected illness at Memorial Hospital in the presence of her loving and devoted family.
She was 67. She was born in Chicago, IL on October 28, 1949 to Anne F. Lesko (Jusick) and John Lesko. Joy attended Taft High School in Chicago and graduated from Lock Haven High School (Lock Haven, PA), Kutztown University (Kutztown, PA) and Fairfield University (Fairfield, CT). She previously also lived in Harrisburg, PA and Rockville, MD.
Our dearest Joy is survived by her loving husband, best friend and companion Dr. Thomas Reid; her two sons - Dr. Christopher T. Reid of Silver Spring MD, a resident in psychiatry at the University of MD in Baltimore (daughter-in-law Kathleen K., a pediatric NP at Children's Hospital in Washington D.C.), and Tristan P. Reid, Director of Information Security Consulting, of Seattle, WA; sister, Judy A. (Jim) Nutschnig of Mundelein, IL; mother, Anne F. Lesko of Fox Lake, IL; niece, Michelle L. (Eric) Bodo of Round Lake, IL; nephew Jeffrey J. (Suzanne) Nutschnig of Libertyville, IL. She was preceded in death by her Father, John Lesko. Joy first met the love of her life, husband Tom, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; they married June 25, 1983.
Joy was the kindest and most loving and gentle of all people. She was the trusted confidant and advisor of her husband of 34 years and her sons, ages 32 and 28. Joy enchanted everyone she met - there is no one who was not calmed by her graciousness.
Joy was most accomplished. She received a Master's degree from Fairfield University and, in the Harrisburg School district, developed a much heralded and often imitated Self Esteem Through The Arts educational program; giving numerous workshops in school districts and at university on the subject. Joy was a consummate artist, her favorite painting medium was oil - some of which is displayed in her husband's office at Memorial. Immersed in theater, she had choreographed The Threepenny Opera among many others and performed on stage, notably as the lead female character in Country Girl. She was steeped in literature and enjoyed discussing her favorite authors (Shakespeare, Proust, Hemingway, Woolf, Plath and many more) by the fireplace with her husband while sharing the pearls of her most cherished stories with her children. Joy played piano, guitar and flute - the most special to her was playing piano with family at Christmas time. She also enjoyed singing with others and had a gifted voice. She was a passionate gardener with a specialty in herbs. Joy was an excellent dancer, the love of which began in her childhood years in ballet. She was a mother who taught the importance of selflessness, leading by example. Joy was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend to us all.
Joy's family deeply appreciates the tremendous kindness of and wonderful care provided by all those who attended Joy at Memorial - in the emergency department: Dr. Joseph D'Haenens and Maria Pretnar RN; in the ICU: Drs. Luke White, Matthew Koscielski and Ismael Al-Ani; and nurses Sara L, Stephanie T, Stacey and Renee.
A Christian Mass of Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am Saturday at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Fir and SR 23, Msgr. William Schooler, Pastor, officiating. Friends may call Friday from 5-8pm at McGann Hay Funerals / Cremations / Gatherings, Granger Chapel, 13260 SR 23, enter off Cherry Rd. where there will be a Parish Vigil at 5:30pm. The family will also receive guests Saturday at church one hour prior to mass 9:30-10:30am. Burial will follow at Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend.
Those wishing to make Memorial Contributions in Joy's memory are asked to direct them to The American Heart Association, Attention Stroke, Greater Midwest Affiliate, Memorials and Tributes Lockbox 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674