Joyce Elaine (Heber) Senczyszyn Sessions

Joyce Elaine Sessions, 95, a long-time Syracuse resident, passed away peacefully at George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home on March 12, 2026 of natural causes.

Born on January 2, 1931 in a company house for Hercules Powder in Bacchus, Utah, Joyce was the eldest of eight children. Her parents, Gustaf J. and Anna Marie Soderlund Heber raised her and her siblings in nearby Magna, Utah, sharing their strong Norwegian and Swedish heritage. Joyce loved to read, sew, and help her mother can fruits and vegetables. She graduated from Cyprus High School, Class of 1949.

Joyce then attended BYU, where she studied speech and drama. After five quarters of classes, she returned home and worked in Tooele where she helped disassemble 40 mm guns for the U.S. Air Force. While working there, Joyce met "Rudy" Senszyszyn. They courted before Rudy was sent to Korea. While on leave in Tokyo, Japan, in 1952, Rudy was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Following his return to the U.S., he and Joyce continued to date. They married in the Salt Lake Utah Temple on August 21, 1953.

Joyce and Rudy raised their two children, Linda and Michael, in California, where Joyce worked as a Middle School Librarian. She and Rudy later divorced.

After returning to Utah, Joyce met Charles Merrill Sessions at a Church-sponsored singles dance. They courted for a while and married on March 26, 1983 in the Ogden Utah Temple.

Joyce helped Merrill raise his seven children, loving them as if they were her very own. In the early years of their marriage, Joyce traveled between California and Utah for her work. She retired in 1985, worked briefly at Weber State in Ogden, and retired again to pursue her growing love for quilting and homemaking.

Joyce had many talents and loved serving in the Church. She was known by the youth as "Sister Friendly" because she helped young parents subscribe to the Church magazine, The Friend. She and Merrill enjoyed serving together in many ways. Merrill was an avid gardener and Joyce enjoyed canning fruits like cherries, tomatoes, peaches, or apricots. Joyce kept their food storage room well stocked, but her real passion was making quilts. Over the years she made 100 of them for family and close friends.

When Merrill passed away in October of 2012, Joyce continued sewing and spending time with her daughter, Linda.

A few years later, she met Arthur Whittaker at the senior center in Kaysville. They dated and married. Both were very committed to their previous spouses but enjoyed each other's company because they preferred not being alone. Arthur died in 2021.

Joyce will be remembered most for her love and generosity towards others. Her ongoing concern and devoted care for her family and her ability to keep a beautiful home, were hallmarks of her life.

Joyce is survived by her children, Linda (Steve) Stalter and Michael (Diane) Sencszyszyn; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; her brothers, Grant, Kent, David, and Keith Heber, and her sister, Ruth Sabin.

In addition to her husbands, Merrill Sessions, Arthur Whittaker, and Rudolph Senczyszyn, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Vernon and Clifford Heber.

The family thanks the amazing staff of George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home and Bristol Hospice for all their compassionate, professional care.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, March 23, 2026 at 11 a.m. at Syracuse City Cemetery, 1250 S. 1000 W. Friends may visit with family on Sunday, March 22, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Monday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Lindquist's Syracuse Mortuary, 869 S. 2000 W.