Joyce Anne Chrzan, 78, passed away peacefully on 10/25/2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Utica, New York, in 1947, Joyce was the daughter of the late Gardiner and Helen (Hawkins) Haver of Poland, NY. She graduated from Poland Central School in 1965 and later attended Central City Business Institute in Syracuse, NY.
A natural beauty with a radiant presence, Joyce was a model and frequent winner in local beauty pageants. In 1973, she married the love of her life, William “Bill” Chrzan and later adopted their daughter, Lynda, in 1978. Together they built a beautiful life.
Joyce loved to entertain and was happiest when surrounded by family and friends. Known for her legendary macaroni salad and sausage roll, she expressed her love through cooking—always preparing enough to feed an army and ensuring everyone left her table full and happy.
With a smile that could light up a room, Joyce was always the life of the party and the undisputed master of the ‘Irish goodbye.’ Her contagious and often hilariously inappropriate laughter was a source of endless joy, and it will be deeply missed.
Joyce was predeceased by her parents, Helen and Gardiner Haver, her brother, Wayne “Big Wheel” Haver; and her niece, Kristen Haver, all of Poland, NY.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 52 years, William Chrzan; her daughter, Lynda (Matthew) Neef of North Wilmington, DE; her cherished grandchildren, Bella, Crystal, and Billy; her beloved grand-puppy, Zero; her brother, Gilbert (Beth) Haver; sister-in-law Cheryl Haver, wife of her late brother Wayne; nephews Wayne (Vicki) Haver Jr., Greg (Erica) Haver, and Tom (Amy) Haver; niece Kelly (Jace) Volo; and her many great-nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their deepest thanks to Linda and Erv Storma for their friendship and support during Bill and Joyce’s time in Fort Myers, Florida; Carol Ann Scott and Michèle Wronski for their kindness, compassion, encouragement, and steadfast support; Sofia Wronski for her outreach and compassionate support over the last couple of very difficult weeks; and Joyce’s care team at Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation for the exceptional care and comfort they provided.
Lynda would like to express her heartfelt and enduring gratitude to her beloved husband, Matthew, and to her incredible children, Bella, Crystal, and Billy, for their endless love, strength, and support as together we faced the difficult and long goodbye of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations in Joyce’s memory be made to support vital research on Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss through the Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Hold My Hand
By Michelle Patterson
Hold my hand mum
By your side, I will stay
I know the path seems forgotten
But long ago you showed me the way
So I will lead you safely
As memories disappear
As life gets more confusing
You will have nothing to fear
As you unlearn the many things
You once upon a time taught me
I will pick them up and hold them for you
It’s not heavy for me you see
So hold my hand mum
And let’s walk together
Let’s sing and smile and dance
This party lasts forever
And when you can no longer find the path
When it’s hard to know what’s true
Just hold my hand mum
And our love will see us through
