Joyce Mary Ziman, nee Greenfield, age 81, of Wheaton, Illinois but formerly of Cobham, Teddington and Kingston upon Thames, England, beloved wife of Lawrence, mother of Jonathan and Timothy, mother-in-law of Kari, and grandmother of Eliana, Michaela, Brielle and Shiloh, who died suddenly whilst in intensive care on Friday December 11, 2020.

Born to a military family at the start of World War II, Joyce grew up in a large family in post-war England. Fiercely independent, she even worked as a sheep herder in Wales. In London she worked on a national newspaper before joining her husband Lawrence as they started their own law firm, Ziman & Co. She was passionate about music and dance, and was as comfortable listening to operas, such as her favorite Turandot, as rocking at an Eric Clapton concert. Joyce was an avid learner and a completely self-taught woman. She excelled at just about everything she put her mind towards. Joyce loved animals, and was particularly adept at working with dogs. When her own father became blind, she not only taught herself braille, but also trained a seeing-eye dog to help her father get around. She loved to travel, and talked often about her many adventures backpacking around the middle-east with her sister when they were young. She loved to hike, and led the family on numerous long treks in Scotland and the Alps when her children were young.

With the birth of her two sons she devoted herself to raising children and giving them every opportunity possible. She volunteered at every school they attended, working concession stands and booster clubs, serving in the school library, and helping in whatever way she could. She had a passion for education and a heart of service for others. When her children entered an American school in England, Joyce started a sports program for children of all ages called American Youth Sports. There was nothing like this in England at the time, and her organization developed youth soccer, basketball and baseball leagues for hundreds of children for many years.

Joyce loved gardening and was particularly gifted in flower arranging. She had an eye for beauty and loved art of all kinds. When her son Jonathan had the opportunity to take his family back to London in 2019, she was thrilled to hear daily updates of the places they visited, which brought back many good memories for her.

She leaves an enormous hole in our hearts and our lives and is painfully missed by all of us. Even her dog Sammy feels lost without her, lying at the foot of her empty chair. She brought joy and enlightenment both to us and to many of those she met. She will always be remembered for her fire, her passion, her generosity and her tenderness.

We shall always be grateful for her love and her guidance through life. She was truly a remarkable woman.

In lieu of flowers,  memorials may be directed to the Animal Rescue Foundation

A funeral service will be provide by Gospel Fellowship Church, which will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 493 Forest Avenue, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, on Friday, December 18th, at 4:00 p.m. Friends may visit with the family from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m.  Do to COVID restrictions, seating is limited. Please RSVP here: **Limited Seating - Reservations Required**

A livestream will also be available here: Livestream