Joyce M. Sheils

Joyce Marshall Dwyer Sheils, 93, passed away peacefully of natural causes on March 11, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born in 1933 and a lifelong Rochester resident, Joyce lived a long, full, and faith-centered life marked by resilience, compassion, and a remarkable ability to find joy in every season and circumstance.

Joyce was predeceased by her husbands Bernard Dwyer and John Sheils, her sister Margaret (Larry) Cleere-Kalb, and her daughter Barbara “Bunny” Vahue.

She is survived by her children Daniel (Lisa) Dwyer, Jeanne (Roy) Hovey, Michael (Caroline) Dwyer, Paul (Debbie) Dwyer, and Kathryn (David) Arduini, along with 19 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins who carry forward her legacy of love, humor, and joy.

Joyce married Bernard “Bernie” Dwyer and together they raised six children. Widowed at 37 after Bernie’s sudden death, she drew strength from her Catholic faith and faced life with grace and courage. She later found happiness again in her marriage to John Sheils, who passed in 2002. She also endured the profound loss of her daughter Barbara eleven years ago, yet continued to embody the joyful resilience that defined her.

A devoted pediatric nurse at Wilson Center, Joyce spent her career caring for children and supporting their families with kindness and steadiness. In retirement she remained committed to service as a hospice volunteer at Journey Home, offering comfort and companionship to those in their final days. At the heart of her life was her deep love for her large, multi-generational family, in which she embraced the role of matriarch with warmth and devotion. Her lifelong friends cherished her humor, generosity, and gentle spirit. In her later years she delighted in “game day” with the girls, weekday breakfasts after Mass, reading, and her legendary talent for value shopping. Known affectionately as the “Happy Warrior,” Joyce met every challenge with faith, courage, and a smile, often humming softly—sometimes a familiar tune, sometimes a melody of her own—lifting the hearts of everyone around her.