Joyce Mae Schott Rihn, of La Coste, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2022 at the age of 87, forty-three years and a day after her husband. She was born on September 11, 1934 in Devine, Texas to George Louis Schott and Helen Netherland Schott.
Joyce married her sweetheart Denis Joseph Rihn on October 26, 1957 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devine. They enjoyed twenty-one years of marriage before his passing.
Joyce worked at Southwestern Bell before becoming a full-time mother and housewife. After Denis’ passing, she returned to the workforce as a substitute teacher, cashier at Schott’s Supermarket and Super S, and Bank Teller for many years. She could be found working at the bank during the day and then heading to the grocery store in the evenings.
Joyce worked incredibly hard to fill the hole left after Denis’ passing. She made sure the kids were taken care of and always well fed. They didn’t have much, but they knew they were rich in family.
Joyce was a friend to many. She enjoyed visiting and catching up, many times on the front porch. Later on, family and friends would often receive phone calls from her just to see how they were doing.
Joyce was well known for her cooking and enjoyed sharing meals with family and friends whenever possible. For over twenty years, she cooked breakfast for her children and their families after Sunday Mass. Cooking was a way she showed her love to others.
Joyce loved and was so proud of her eight children and then her eighteen grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren. She had the brightest smile when holding one of the babies and catching up with the older ones. She knew Denis would be proud of the family that had grown from their love.
Joyce was rich in faith, which carried her through many tragedies and hardships. She had a powerful devotion to the Holy Rosary and prayed fervently for the well-being of her family and friends. She often shared what the ‘Good Lord’ had provided her in this life.
Joyce is survived by her children, Nancy (Richard) Lopez, Freddy (Bernadine) Rihn, Kenneth (Jean) Rihn, Diane (Ken) Mangold, Gary (Toy) Rihn, Teresa (Scott) Tschirhart, Imogene (Roger) Mann, and Amy (Oscar) Sierra all of the Medina County area, eighteen grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren.
Joyce is preceded in death by her husband and parents, her brothers George Schott, Randy Schott, Claude Schott, David Schott, and Roger Schott and sister, Evelyn Thompson.
Visitation was Thursday, February 24, 2022 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in La Coste with the Holy Rosary recited at 6:30 p.m. The Mass of the Resurrection was at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 25, 2022 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in La Coste. Interment followed at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Cemetery in La Coste, Texas.
Memorials may be made in Joyce’s memory to the Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church Building Fund, Restore Reproductive Health Center in Hondo, or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home.