Joyce M. Janovec

Joyce M. Janovec, 83, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Visitation will be held Friday, August 29, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids, beginning with a Rosary at 5 p.m. and concluding with a Scripture Service at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. A livestream of the Funeral Mass can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/@st.ludmilacatholicchurch3280

A second Mass in Joyce’s honor will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 5, 2025, at Saint Libory Catholic Church in Saint Libory, Nebraska, with a Rosary to begin at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Libory Cemetery.

Joyce was born on May 30, 1942, in Grand Island, Nebraska, to Francis and Loretta (Evers) Janovec. She began her education in a one-room country schoolhouse and later graduated from Notre Dame Academy High School in Omaha. Joyce entered religious life as a Notre Dame nun, taking the name Sister Jacinta Marie, serving faithfully for 20 years. She continued her education at St. Mary’s College and later earned a master’s degree from Chicago State University.

Joyce dedicated more than 39 years to teaching, including the Archdiocese of Omaha, St. Ludmila Catholic School in Cedar Rapids, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, and the Chicago Public School System, before retiring in 2007. After retirement she returned to Cedar Rapids where she was an active member of St. Ludmila Catholic Church and made kolaches for her parish community. Joyce also volunteered with St. Vincent de Paul.

Survivors include her children, William Janovec Easley and Naomi Janovec-Easley (Dion Samuel), all of Chicago; brother, Rev. James Janovec of Grand Island; sister, Judy Janovec (Donice Woodworth) of Ericson, Nebraska; and her close friends of over 50 years, Donna Grimm of Cedar Rapids, and Alean Stancil of Chicago.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Franics and Loretta Janovec; siblings, John Janovec and JoAnn Masur; and the father of her beloved children, Samuel H. Easley.