Joyce Carolyn (Totten) Taylor, 89, died on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. Born in Rochelle, Illinois, to the late James and Fern (Tower) Totten, she dedicated her life to teaching, first as a high school math teacher and later as a preschool teacher. She was a devoted member of Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church in Oak Park. She served many roles with the United Methodist Women over the decades, such as the Member Care Committee, faithfully sending cards for birthdays and other occasions, bringing joy and connection.
A proud fan of the University of Illinois basketball team and her beloved Chicago “Cubbies,” she also loved music. She was often heard singing and carried a “song of the day” in her heart. Two songs became especially meaningful: “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” which marked her move to Rhode Island to live near her eldest daughter, Beth, and “Amazing Grace,” particularly the third verse, which reflected her deep faith.
In the summer of 2024, she hosted a family reunion at her assisted living residence, with a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline and her church — a perfect setting for a woman whose life was rooted in faith, music, and love.
Joyce was the mother of four children: Elizabeth J. Dorich (husband, Nicholas Jr.), Gwen P. Feifarek (husband, Jonathan), Julie D. Mann (husband, Charles), and Timothy D. Taylor (wife, Amy); grandmother of nine: Scott Schmalzer (wife, Melinda), Jacqueline Stackhouse (husband, Daniel), Nicholas Dorich III (wife, Patricia Mann), Tara Kitchen (husband, Joseph), Christopher Dorich (wife, Natasha), Jonathan Dorich (wife, Victoria), Heather Dorich, Alexander Feifarek, and Ella Taylor; and great-grandmother of 13: Shane, Logan, Addison, Jackson, Bodhi, Barrett, Skylar, Ryder, Emma, Ronin, Melody, Cody, and Wyatt. She also leaves behind several nieces, nephew, and friends. In addition to her husband and parents, Joyce was predeceased by her siblings, Murlin Totten and Wanda Miensma.
She will be remembered for her warmth, her sense of humor and her ability to find a song for any moment in life.
Relatives and friends are invited to honor Joyce in a Celebration of Life Memorial Service at Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church, 405 S. Euclid Ave., Oak Park at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, with a reception to follow. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce’s memory may be made to: Kids Above All, 8765 W. Higgins Road, Suite 450, Chicago, IL 60631, Kidsaboveall.org or Salvation Army, 6835 Post Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852, https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/campaign/676125/donate
Visit Fagan-Quinn Funeral Home online for online condolences, www.PatrickQuinnFuneralsandCremations.com.