Joyce F (Stone) Beber Obituary (1928 - 2020)

JOYCE FRANCINE BEBER, age 92 of Cicero, IN passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. She was born in Elwood, IN on March 2,1928 the sixth child of William and Mary (Balser) Stone and graduated in 1946 from Wendell L. Willkie High School in her hometown. While in her senior year of high school she met our father Ralph "Bud" Beber and knew immediately he was the one. While he served our country for four years during World War II, they exchanged weekly love letters. Upon his return from the war, they married on May 29,1949. With his passing in 2015, one day before reaching their 66th wedding anniversary, we consoled her with "You made it to 66. It counts if you consider leap years!" and that made her especially happy. Together they raised four children and counted that as their proudest achievement. While growing up, the evening family meal was mandatory and a time to share the day's events with each other. It was always followed by a countryside drive with ice cream cones and loads of laughter. Mom was a voracious reader of books, the daily newspaper and the Enquirer for the real news. She was a strategic domino player, good cook and even better pie baker, and such a confident solver of crossword puzzles that they were always done in ink. She was also a passionate gardener, a hobby she learned from her mother and passed on to us. She loved whiling away the hours in a rocking chair on her front porch with signage proclaiming "What happens on the porch, stays on the porch." She is survived by three children: Janet Dunnichay and husband Jed of Springboro, OH; Brenda Beeman of Elwood; and William Beber of Cicero. Her grandchildren include Angelo Pappas of Indianapolis, Brent Beeman, Brooke Beeman, and great-grandson Eli Hahn of Elwood. Our mother is also survived by her 83-year old baby sister Shirley Ripberger of Indianapolis. She was preceded in death by her daughter Peggy Sue Pappas, two grandchildren Jack Dunnichay and Aristotle Pappas, and 5 siblings: Joe Stone, Jack Stone, Bobby Stone, Virginia Engle and Mary Speer. Out of respect for personal and public safety, a private family funeral service to honor and celebrate our mother's life will be held Saturday, March 28 at Dunnichay Funeral Home in Elwood with Reverend Joe Collier officiating. Burial will follow at the Elwood City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, our family requests donations be made in mother's memory to the Elwood Fire Department through the funeral home. Online condolences are welcome at www.dunnichayfuneralhome.com .