Joyce Elaine Ballinger, a woman of remarkable independence and formidable grace, passed away peacefully on May 26, 2026, in Chicago, IL with her son by her side. She was 83 years old.

Born on January 10, 1943, in Marion, IN, Joyce grew up with a spirit that always seemed destined for something larger than the world she was born into. From her earliest years, she was confident, unafraid, and driven by a deep curiosity about the people and places beyond her smalltown beginnings. That curiosity carried her across oceans and through a textured life that provided inspiration to anyone that was lucky enough to know her. She was passionate about experiencing life in its entirety and wanted to share it with everyone. Her life was marked by kindness, warmth and quiet strength. She was filled with purpose and lived a life based on dignity and hope.

In the same way that she approached the rest of her life, Joyce pursued her personal education with passion. She believed knowledge was a critical part of her life journey. She earned a degree in dietetics from Ball State University and later earned a master's in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. For Joyce, learning was much more than simply earning a set of credentials. She firmly believed in continual growth and wanted to be an example for future generations. Her education was the foundation that allowed her to take advantage of opportunities that her life presented to her.

Her professional life was also marked by courage and excellence. Immediately following her time at Ball State, she moved to New York City and worked as a dietician with the Veterans Administration. A few years later, and with a young child in tow, she moved to Paris, France and took a position with the United Nations. She learned the language and embraced the French culture with excitement and joy. Her time with the UN not only filled her with great purpose on a global scale, but it also introduced her to new cultures throughout the world. A few years later and back in the USA, she focused on roles that taught her the art of professional sales. This ultimately created an opportunity as a sales executive with Glaxo Pharmaceuticals, where she stood out for more than a decade as one of the top producing professionals throughout the country. After retiring from Glaxo, she found yet another passion as a real estate agent with Keller Willams. No matter what position she took on, Joyce always created her own success and did it with integrity, grit and a great sense of responsibility.

Joyce was also deeply involved in her faith, and her beliefs shaped the way she loved and cared for others. She embraced her church as more than just a place to go on Sundays. It was where she found community and support in all seasons of her life. Her faith gave her comfort in difficult times and joy in good ones. It guided her in the way she showed selfless compassion for others.

Joyce was a woman of varied interests and had a passion for experiences. She was a voracious reader and intently followed the news and politics. She enjoyed traveling and wanted to directly experience and understand local cultures. She loved museums. She loved learning foreign languages. She loved art. She loved to sew. She loved theater and music. She loved to ski and tackled some of the tallest peaks in Europe. She embraced new experiences and had no fear of the unknown. She was undaunted by the potential dangers of taking on new adventures. Her life was full of memories, photos and keepsakes from all corners of the globe.

Joyce is lovingly remembered by her son, Jason, and by her granddaughters, Lily and Clara, who were among the lights of her life. She cherished her family deeply, and her love for them was steady and unmistakable. She found joy in sharing stories, in offering encouragement, and in leaving behind memories that will continue to bring both comfort and laughter to those she loved.

As the poet Maya Angelou once said, "A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.". Joyce lived with passion and embraced the experiences of life. She will be remembered not only for what she did, but also for how she made everyone feel. She was a woman of substance, and her life was a testament to love, strength and compassion. Her stories and life lessons will live on forever in those who were blessed to know her.