Joyce Riegel Zanette

Joyce Riegel Zanette, 94, of West Chester, PA., died unexpectedly on Monday, April 15, 2024, at the Chester County Hospital.

Joyce was born on January 5, 1930 in Eldred, PA., the third child and second daughter of Forrest and Lena Riegel. The family subsequently moved to Emporium where Joyce attended school, played flute in the high school band and graduated with the EHS class of 1948. Then, Joyce attended Chestnut Hill Nursing School in Philadelphia, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1951.

She then married, Floyd Zanette who she met while working in Philadelphia. As just another reflection of her deeply held Emporium roots, they were married in Emporium and held their reception in what was then known as the American Legion Hall on Chestnut Street, a structure that then had just recently been constructed by Joyce’s father. Joyce and Floyd then began their 48-year marriage by living in various cities during his career in textile manufacturing including an extended period in Europe where she was able to provide a comfortable and secure home environment while assuring her children had a supportive and enjoyable educational and social environment as residents of Holland. Returning to the US, she then proceeded to be an active, involved Mother, getting involved in the children’s scouting and sporting events, enjoying their time at the family beach house in LBI and savoring her favorite annual holiday, Christmas. As a reflection of her strong sense of family, Joyce was able to continue to reach out and maintain contact with and support her extended family by hosting an array of holidays and making the effort to join other family events. Also, as an indication of her deeply held and heartfelt feelings for her Emporium roots, again despite her at times extensive separations by geography, she would still reach out and support and participate in many years of high school reunions of her class of 1948 joining that group of classmates who displayed a remarkable commitment to maintaining their high school roots and shared heritages. Joyce continued to maintain contacts with classmates through the final years of her life. Then, as a reflection of her sense of community, once she and Floyd became “empty nesters” in West Chester, Joyce became a volunteer at the Chester County Hospital serving in that capacity for many years again, all done with her engaging personality, inevitable smile, strength of character and sense of traditional values all reflective of her family and Emporium heritage.

Joyce was predeceased by her parents, Forrest and Lena Riegel, her husband, Floyd, and two siblings, June Riegel Graham  and Forrest Riegel.

She is survived by her children, Karen (Paul) Knox of Ballston Spa, NY., Thomas of West Chester, PA and Gregg of King of Prussia, PA and one sibling, Kent (Betty) Riegel of Chadds Ford, PA. She leaves 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

There will no visitations and at her request, a private family memorial service.