Joyce McGovern
Joyce McGovern,77, passed away on Saturday, June 27, in a personal care home in Deer Park, Texas. She was born on April 22, 1943 in Wilmette, Illinois to Estelle (nee Thalmann) and George Busscher. Joyce is survived by her: loving husband, Terence; daughter, Julie (Virginia) and her husband, Jeff Isaacs; sons, Stephen (Massachusetts), and Gregory (Texas) and his wife Catherine. She is also survived by her: brother and sister-in law, Warren and Marjorie Busscher (South Carolina). Her beloved grandchildren are Henry and Marion McGovern (Texas), and Ryan and Eric Isaacs (Virginia). She also leaves behind numerous cousins in Illinois, and nephews in Virginia and South Carolina.
Miss Joyce earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Mundelein College in Chicago. It was in Chicago area that she met and married her beloved husband Terence, a transplant from New York and a student at Northwestern University. After Terence received his degree, the family moved to Charleston, West Virginia. It was here that Terence started his long career at Union Carbide. When the children were growing Joyce realized her long ideal of starting her own career as a professional music instructor, in piano. A corporate relocation in 1994 brought the family to Clear Lake Texas. Terence retired in 2001, but Miss Joyce continued her career of instilling a love of piano to young students. She taught her last lesson in 2016.
Miss Joyce belonged to several professional organizations including the piano instruction groups BAMTA, GCMA, HMTA, TMTA and MTNA. She and Terence were active church goers at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, and also supporters of cultural organizations such as MFA-Houston, HMNS, Houston Early Music and Music in Context (Rice University)
On Wednesday, July 1, 2020 a Visitation and Viewing will be held from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, followed by a Catholic Funeral Service at 4:00 pm at Crowder Funeral Home, Webster, TX. Interment will be held at a later date at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Dickinson, TX.
Joyce was a vibrant person and will be missed by all. She had a love of life and those around her that was unmatched. She was a beloved sister and friend.
We are saddened to hear about her demise. She is free of her difficulties. May her
soul Rest In Peace and her lifelong memories guide us all on how to live well and
love all. So many wonderful memories will be with us for rest of our lives.
Bipin and Rita Avashia
A wonderful tribute from her son-in-law Jeff Isaacs
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I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to the McGovern family, she was an amazing lady. I learned to play the piano from her throughout my childhood, and I don’t think I could have had a better teacher. She instilled so many great values and qualities in me that I still try to incorporate in my life today. I have to credit her for ingraining a musical sense in my life, and I could not thank her enough for that. My love for music has branched out to so many different genres and instruments, and it all rooted from her teaching me the piano. She spent countless hours sitting with me and perfecting my form and technique, and this hard work and dedication transferred to my everyday work ethic. She impacted countless lives and truly loved teaching her students. She truly had a ardent soul, may she rest in peace.
I am deeply saddened to hear of Ms. McGovern’s passing. I was her piano student from a young age until she retired in 2016. She taught me how to appreciate the beauty of music, and how to communicate that when I play and I am very grateful for that. Whenever I perform at competitions, the musicality and phrasing techniques that she instilled in me are always noted by my judges, and that is all thanks to her. Ms. McGovern was always so high-spirited, and I still have fond memories of the games we would play, the thoughtful birthday gifts, and the little chocolates she would give me after every class. I extend my deepest sympathies to her family, it was truly a blessing to have known her.
Sam and I are so very, very saddened over the loss of our in-law and friend, Joyce McGovern. We have every reason to belief that this lovely, intelligent and vibrant woman is with Our Father in Heaven, embarking on the next step we all will eventually take. Our love and condolences to Terrance, Greg and Catherine and and our grandchildren, and Julie and Jeff and their boys. Also, condolences to Stephen. Bless you all at this difficult time.
The happiest time I remember Joyce was the evening before Catherine and Greg’s baby shower for Henry. It was a small family gathering at my daughter and son in law’s house and it seemed Joyce almost literally blew in. I was surprised and pleased at her vivacity and charm, good grace, good spirits and good humor. I told Greg this before her passing and he said”that’s the way she really was. I know Catherine and the whole family was blessed to have Joyce as a wife and mother and mother in law. Catherine respected her tremendously. I feel blessed too.
Mrs. McGovern will be dearly missed. She was such a sweet woman.