Joyce Patricia Sita

Joyce Sita, 88, entered into eternal rest on January 22, 2025. Born in Portland and raised in San Francisco, Joyce’s upbringing was unique because she spent a few years living in an orphanage with her sister. Joyce remembers her youth with grace and gratitude. After graduating from Star of the Sea High School, Joyce entered the CST religious order in 1954, but left in 1962, prior to taking her final vows, to pursue her dream of having a family. Joyce started working at a bank in San Francisco and attended night school. In 1963, she married and moved to San Luis Obispo, where she began her teaching career at a local mission school. The following year, she moved to Long Beach, where she attended Loyola Marymount and completed her degree at Mount Saint Mary's before starting her family. After moving to Tucson in 1969, Joyce earned her master's in counseling from the University of Arizona while raising three young children. She began teaching at St. Cyril in 1981. In 1986, Joyce moved to Santa Rosa to teach at St. Eugene’s and started kicking it up singing with a Dixieland jazz band. Joyce retired in 2000 and briefly lived in Carson City to be near her sister. In 2002, she returned to Tucson to be a full-time grandmother. For the next 23 years, she shared her silliness, bright spirit, and unending kindness with her grandchildren, family, and dear friends. Joyce is survived by her children, Michael (Rachael) Sita of Seattle, Gioia (Chris) Sanderson, and Matthew Sita of Tucson; seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild, lifelong friend Sue Wolff, and her dear sister, Margie Bobrink of Longmont, Co. 

A celebration of Joyce's life will be held on June 7, 2025, at 10 AM at the Newman Center, 1615 E 2nd St, Tucson, AZ 85719.