Joyce Blust
1939 – 2025
Cincinnati, Ohio

Joyce “Granny” Blust was more than a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother—she was the heart of her family. Born in Pulaski, Tennessee in 1939, she carried a warmth and strength that never dimmed. Joyce married her high-school sweetheart, Ace, and together they built a life full of love, laughter, and family. They raised three children, filling their home with joy, adventures, and memories that would last a lifetime. Friends and family were always welcome, and she cherished a life rich with celebrations, gatherings, and the simple pleasures of shared time.

Joyce dedicated her life to caring for those she loved. She raised her children and grandchildren with unwavering devotion, tended to her parents in their later years, and devoted nearly 30 years to caring for her beloved husband, Ace, supporting him through his health struggles. The two shared 55 wonderful years of marriage before Ace passed in 2011. After his passing, Joyce cherished every moment with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, celebrating stories, milestones, and everyday visits. She became the last of her family following the passing of her twin sister Joan, carrying their family’s legacy forward with grace and love.

Friends remember her quick wit and her effortless style, while her grandchildren remember her as the one who always showed up. She would scratch her grandchildren’s backs and arms to soothe them and fill every room with her infectious laughter, often laughing at herself as easily as with others. She was the kind of person you could talk to about anything—the good, the bad, or the ugly—and always feel safe and understood. Joyce loved to express her joy and spirit through fashion, enjoying beautiful clothing, handbags, and shoes, and always sharing her flair and elegance with those around her.

Granny’s love was often served on a plate. She made the best macaroni salad and sweet tea, family favorites, and no one ever left her table hungry. She insisted everyone take a little extra home, and if you were just swinging through, she’d make something ready to go. Even at the very end, when she had so little strength left, her first concern was still for her family: “Have you eaten dinner?” For her, food was comfort, care, and love all rolled into one.

She leaves behind a family who adored her beyond measure — her children Sherry (Alvin) Hayes, Cindy (John) Radenheimer, and David (Jenny) Blust; her grandchildren Cara Ball, Tony (Jackie) Miller, Kelli (Matt) Goedde, Steph (Luke) Kopyar, Dean (Lori) Roden, Stacey Dom, Andy (Sandra) Blust, and Jake (Lindsay) Blust; and her great-grandchildren Jake Ball, Julien Synder, Alli Ball, Trey Miller, Austin Goedde, Morgan Miller, Jace Moffitt, Elise Roden, Grace Goedde, Connor Roden, Leo Kopyar, Charlie Blust, Marleigh Blust, Emma Blust, Drew Blust and Rosie Blust; and great-great-grandchildren Jeremiah Horton and Relly Mizell, each of whom brought light and laughter to her days.

Her love lives on—in every full plate, every laugh shared, every story still being told, and in the warmth, joy, and sparkle she brought to every life she touched.