Obituary of Joyce Ann Ruckelshaus

Joyce Ann (Keenan) Ruckelshaus, 76, formerly from Madison, NJ sadly left us peacefully on February 15, 2024, at her home in Bethlehem Township, PA following a lengthy illness. She was the wife of former Madison Mayor, Gary E. Ruckelshaus.

Joyce was predeceased by her parents, James and Louise Keenan and two brothers, William Keenan and Thomas Keenan. She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Gary, her three devoted children, Gary J. Ruckelshaus, Jill Ruckelshaus Flax, and Julie Buchan, her brother, James Keenan, her sister, Lori Summers and her eight grandchildren, Matthew Ruckelshaus, Nicole Ruckelshaus, Kaitlyn Ruckelshaus, William Flax, Katherine Flax, Sydney Buchan, Jay Buchan, and Casey Buchan.

Joyce was known for her ready, cheerful smile, her sparkling eyes, her caring ways, and her willingness to help those in need. She graduated from Bayley Ellard Regional High School in 1965 and the College of St. Elizabeth in 1969 with a degree in elementary education. After raising her three children, she went back to school and received certifications in accounting and bookkeeping. She then embarked on a lengthy and successful career as a bookkeeper and office manager for local businesses, including Disque Interior Designs, Garruto, Carr CPAs, and J.H Cohn LLP.

Joyce also used her accounting skills for volunteer positions, including serving as the treasurer for the Madison Community Pool for 25 years, the treasurer for the Madison Eagle Christmas Fund for over 30 years and the treasurer for the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer, and AIDS Research Madison Walk-a-Thon for 20 years. In her leisure time, she loved tap dancing, baking, knitting, and relaxing on the beach with her family and friends in her beloved Seaside Park.

A Memorial Visitation will be held on March 1, 2024, from 5 pm to 8 pm at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler, 100 Main Street, Madison, NJ. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on March 2, 2024, at 10:30 am at St. Vincent Martyr Catholic Church, 26 Green Village Road, Madison, NJ. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations may be made in Joyce’s memory to the Madison Eagle Christmas Fund or the Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps.