Joyce Ann Chiappazzi Serafini Obituary

Joyce Ann Chiappazzi Serafini attended Mcdowell High School in Erie, PA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Joyce Ann Chiappazzi Serafini.

Graduation Year	Class of 1959
Date of Passing	Mar 10, 2017
About	Joyce turned out to be a fierce warrior in life and it's battles but never more stronger than her final years where to won battle after battle of the worse medical cases at the same time dealing with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (which took her older sister, Rose's life in 2009), and aggressive breast cancer, and COPD due to asthma which she had since childhood. She really was a testament of fortitude and strength for the medical books with various specialists in Pittsburgh and Erie and having to meet those appointments when the body was just not wanting too. Truly an inspiration to her youngest sister, Kristine (Trojan, 1967) and dearly miss. Below is her obituary as printed. She loved her time at McDowell and her friends, especially her life long friend, Joan Fisher. God bless the Class of 1959. Joyce A. Chiappazzi Serafini, 75, of Erie, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday, March 10, 2017 at Walnut Creek Nursing Home. She was born August 30, 1941 in Erie, a daughter of the late Joseph and Lena Mattioli Chiappazzi. Joyce was a woman who above all loved and cherished her husband "Honey Joe". Her eyes lit up whenever she spoke of him and their 38 years together were years filled with love and joy. Joyce was a very passionate woman who was extremely proud of her Italian heritage and was an active member in the Italian American Women's Association here in Erie for ten years. She was also a proud Democrat and was an enthusiastic and a zealous defender of her viewpoints. We all have enjoyed the many letters to the editor Joyce has written over the years in the Erie Times-News. Joyce was a prior Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker and a prior member of the Erie Maennerchor Club and the La Nuova Aurora Club. The joy of cooking and entertaining her family and friends was one of Joyce's greatest joys in life. She is a very much loved and cherished Mother by her daughter Renee` who will forever miss her mother's kind words of encouragement and guidance through-out her life. Her only grandson Matthew was surrounded with love and pride by Joyce and she will forever watch over and protect him. Joyce will be very much missed and forever loved by her sisters, brother and their children and also her wonderful friends and neighbors. Her "Charlie Boy" was her beloved dog whom she spoiled and loved so very much. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her son, Bruce Joseph Hopkins and one sister, Rosemary Wilson. She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Joseph Sam Serafini of Erie; her daughter, Renee Mary Hopkins of Erie; two sisters, Marilyn Gebhardt (Richard) of Erie and Kristine Kravis (Bruce) of Fondue Loc, Wis.; one brother, Gerald Chiappazzi (Sally) of Yorktown, Va.; one grandson, Matthew A. Hopkins (fiance' Taunia Kennedy); one great-granddaughter, McKenzi; and a brother-in-law, Charles Serafini. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and her dog, Charlie. Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. and may attend a Funeral Mass on Tuesday at Saint Andrew Church, 1116 West 7th Street, at 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to the Italian American Women's Association, PO Box, 3649, Erie, PA 16508. To send condolences visit www.orlandofuneralhome.com. Our family wishes to thank Hospice of Metropolitan Erie, Walnut Creek Nursing Home, and Manchester Presbyterian Nursing Home for the wonderful care and support of Joyce and her entire family. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/erietimesnews/obituary.aspx?pid=184461503#sthash.fmO8l8eu.dpuf