Obituary of Joyce Opal Lapoint
Joyce Opal Lapoint (nee Osmon) passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 29, 2017 at an extended care facility near her home in Lakeville, PA. She was 79 years old as she ended her struggles with the symptoms of late stage dementia. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral service and burial at Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church, 42 Liberty Corner Road, Warren, NJ on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 10 a.m. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 3rd, 2017 from 4-8 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ.
Joyce was born and raised in Warren Township, NJ, in the house her father built on Mount Horeb Road. She was descended through the long line of Coddington and Giddes families who were the original settlers of the area. Joyce graduated from North Plainfield High School, and attended secretarial school before starting a long career at Lockheed Martin Corporation in North Plainfield, NJ. She married her first husband Matthew Tepelmann, Jr. with whom she had her only son Matthew (Fritz) Tepelmann. After being widowed and raising her son as single mother, she later remarried to George Lapoint in 1992 with whom she enjoyed a long and happy marriage of 25 years. George was her devoted and constant companion and in her last year's her steadfast caregiver.
Joyce will be remembered by her family and friends as a calm, steady, dependable and kind presence. In her earlier years she was active in her communities, serving as Secretary and Treasurer for local Boy Scout Troop 228, volunteering and leading activities for the Mt. Horeb United Methodist's Women's group, and in Pennsylvania serving her neighborhood of Ruffed Grouse, and participating in her most recent church, Lakeville United Methodist. She was the best big sister, devoted daughter, patient mother, caring Aunt, loving wife and grandmother that anyone would ever want. She was a trophy winning bowler, a tough Scrabble competitor, a mystery-reading fanatic, a dedicated puzzle solver, a beautiful voice in the church, and a woman who rarely said no to any another's request for help.
Joyce is survived by her husband George Lapoint of Lakeville, PA, her son Matthew (Fritz) Tepelmann and his wife Ingrid, and their son Benjamin of Annapolis, MD; her sisters Audrey Grodt and Janet Wylie; her nieces and nephews - Gene Perone, Barbara DeLoureiro, Leann Almeida and Kevin Perone, and their families. She will be missed and remembered always. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in her loving memory to the Lakeville United Methodist Church 431 Purdytown Turnpike, Lakeville, PA 18438
