Joyce Reines, beloved mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully in Salt Lake City the evening of October 2.  Her 81 years were a testament to resilience, courage, and unconditional love.
 
Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio to Max and Sylvia Shleier, she built her life around family, friends, faith, and compassion.  After the tragic loss of her four year old son, she showed remarkable strength and resilience for her children – Seth and Joel – ensuring they grew up in a home filled with warmth, tradition, support, and values of her Jewish faith.  She loved to light the Shabbat candles and served traditional dinners most Friday nights, and rarely missed annual celebrations with close friends and family for Passover Seder and the High Holidays.  Her sons fondly remember her never-ending devotion to creating a sense of Jewish identity through every meal, carpool, celebration, and spiritual moments shared together.
 
In her 30s, she courageously left family and friends in her hometown of Ohio to start a new life chapter in Salt Lake City, Utah – living in Olympus Cove with her two sons, and her former spouse, Marvin Marcus.   During this period which spanned nearly three decades, she was an active member of Congregation Kol Ami and the Jewish community, where she volunteered with numerous service organizations and was always a source of inspiration, guidance and support.    
 
Joyce entered the professional working world later in life after her kids moved out – initially, teaching special education to students at the local middle school –  Churchill Junior High.  She also spent time in ‘Corporate America’ building a career in human resources; towards the end of her professional years, she found her passion again, serving the Salt Lake Jewish community as a coordinator with Jewish Family Services.   
 
Later in life – in her 60s – she made the difficult decision to start over again, moving to Florida, where she married the love of her life – Jeff Reines.  They enjoyed a decade of “golden years” together that included a historic tour of Israel, until his untimely passing in 2020.   Her love and compassion for those close to her in life was always a top priority.   She provided a seasonal Jewish home for her dear mother Sylvia (whom was a fixture in the Kol Ami community), supporting her through early widowed years, and also later in life during her final time in Salt Lake.   She was also Jeff’s primary caregiver during their final years together.       


After Jeff’s passing, and subsequently enduring the challenges of living alone during COVID lockdown, Joyce faced her own health struggles – dementia – with dignity, grace, and a smile.  She ultimately returned to Salt Lake City in 2024, closing a circle of a life that began and ended being surrounded by the love of her friends, community, and family.
 
Joyce will ultimately be remembered for her courage to begin anew, unbreakable faith and spirit, compassion for family and friends, and boundless pride in her sons –  Seth and Joel.  She continually strived to be a ‘motherly’ and spiritual source of support and inspiration for them.
 
Her memory will live on as a blessing to all who were touched by her indomitable spirit, warmth, caring, and zeal for life.