Cover photo for Fern Boyce's Obituary
Fern Boyce Profile Photo
1947 Fern 2022

Fern Boyce

August 15, 1947 — December 16, 2022

Tunkhannock, PA

Fern Boyce, 75, of Tunkhannock passed away Friday, December 16, 2022, at Elan Skilled Nursing and Rehab. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Robert Boyce.

"On Friday, December 16, at 11:35 AM, my wife and helpmate of 44 years, decided, her life should end. Fern Violet Boyce, the youngest of 5 children, born to Raymond and Violet Hawk of Saylorsburg PA. was born in Stroudsburg, PA. and welcomed home by older brothers Marvin, LeRoy, and sisters Marian and Ethel, on August 15, 1947. She attended a local country school until moving to the new jointure of Pleasant Valley.

She played the trumpet in the band and graduated High school in 1965. On to East Stroudsburg State College and a BS and then MS degrees in elementary education. Her brother Marvin enticed her to come interview for a 6th grade teaching job in the Tunkhannock Area SD and 30 years later retired having loved the job and the area. She loved teaching reading. During those years she met and married Bob Boyce. One of the Shop teachers and with him built a home, had a son, Steven, His deafness forced Fern and Bob to resort to the legal system to allow him to attend the Scranton State School for the Deaf. During Steven's tenure at SSSD she had retired and started substitute teaching at the Deaf school along with being the president of the parent/teacher association. Steven graduated and went on to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and RIT for an engineering degree. He married Anna and attained an engineering position with PENNDOT. They have two wonderful little girls. Our grand babies, Skye and Avery.

Fern had to switch focus and now volunteered with Bob at the Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock. First on the Board of directors and then the Birthday party lady along with Alice Edwards, a true friend and savior. It was during the planning of parties that Fern was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. 3 Years later it changed to Alzheimer's and Dementia.

Bob was now a care giver. Alice and the quilting/sewing ladies provided socialization and lifelong friendships. In those two years memory, mobility and problem-solving skills degraded, along with her daily living and new barriers. When is life turned to merely existence? Home health aide, Donna, from "Home Instead" and I made the decision to seek help for her at a hospital, The Friday after Thanksgiving.

In a two-week period, she went from walking with a cane to not being able to stand. Skilled nursing and rehab at the former Jewish Home in Scranton. Two weeks of excellent care there and her body decided to stop the torment. The loss of memories, the fear and paranoia when the sun starts to set. Her knowing but then again not knowing, who was who, where is where, the inability to communicate is now over. Fern, I put a beacon in the apple trees. Strings of colored lights that others think are for Christmas, they are there to guide you back home when and if you are ready. I will await your visits forever."

Your husband, Bob.

For those that wish to remember Fern by donating to organizations she believed in. Please consider, St. Paul's Lutheran Church 5672 Route 6 West Tunkhannock, PA. 18657 or the Dietrich Theater 60 East Tioga Street Tunkhannock, PA 18657.

Family and friends are invited to attend Fern’s celebration of life which will be held on July 29, 2023 at Lazybrook Park, Tan Pavilion next to the playground, 2 Lazybrook Rd., Tunkhannock, PA 18657 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM.

Arrangements and care entrusted to Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, PA 18657.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Fern Boyce, please visit our flower store.

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