Joyce Rosanne Abelt, a beloved mother, grandmother and woman of faith, passed away on April 19, 2026.

She was 89 years old. She was born on February 25, 1937 in Huntington, West Virginia to Ford and Lucy Bissikumer. Joyce received her Business degree in Secretarial Science, (yes – that was a real major), in 1958 from St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Joyce resided in her home state prior to meeting and marrying her husband of almost 60 years, Robert Lee Abelt. They began to build a life together that would, over the years, be defined by love, family, and their love for travel. As his work at Lockheed required them to live and work in various cities over the years, Including Alamogordo NM, El Paso TX and Austin TX, Joyce and Robert eventually settled down in League City, TX. Their love for travel only intensified at that point, and Joyce and Robert went off to see many faraway places such as Turkey, Russia and Australia, as well as countless other world destinations via river cruises. Sometimes, their travels were somewhat closer, as they enjoyed heading off to the Coushatta Casino in Louisiana for a weekend when they could.

When her beloved Robert passed away in 2020, Joyce developed her own sense of independence
and relished any opportunity to spend time with her children and grandchildren: Her daughter Lucy Spade and children Rachel and Rebecca; Ruth Abelt and daughter Amelia; Her son David Abelt, wife Irma and son Josh; and her daughter Katherine, husband Charlie, and children Zach and Christine. Along with her sister Karen Pagnotto and husband Chuck, these were the people that she tried to surround herself with as often as possible.

Joyce also enjoyed her own activities, including playing in a Bridge Club as well as participating in a weekly bible study with her dear friend, Marian Scott. She also enjoyed spending time on her porch with the birds, or out on the pool deck enjoying anything tasty coming off the barbeque grill.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband Robert, and her son-in-law (Ret.) Col. Jayson Spade.

The family would like to thank the staff and administrators at Regal Estates Retirement Community in League City for their kind and compassionate care for Joyce as she left this life behind to begin her eternal life with Robert.

Funeral services will be held on May 29, 10 am, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Nassau Bay, 18223 Point Lookout Dr, Houston, TX 77058. A brief service afterward will be held at Houston National Cemetery, 12:45 pm, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston TX, 77038.

You are invited to wear some shade of green that day – Joyce’s favorite color.