Joy R. Leber

Joy Risser Leber, 94, journeyed home to meet her Lord face to face on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Evergreen in Masonic Village, Elizabethtown. Born May 20, 1929, to Samuel B. and Mary E. Risser of Elizabethtown, she was married for 73 years to James E. Leber. A 1947 graduate of Elizabethtown High School, Joy took classes at Penn State University and earned a B.S. in Home Economics and Nutrition from Bob Jones University and Elizabethtown College in 1951 where she met James Leber. They married at St. Paul’s EUB Church, Elizabethtown, on August 20,1950 and lived together in York and Zion’s View, and in Pottsville, but spent most of their lives in Elizabethtown. Joy and Jim built their home on Groff Avenue where they raised nine of their ten children. At the time of her death, Joy was the longest and oldest living member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Elizabethtown. While raising her children, Joy volunteered and served on the Board of Directors of a local day care center and tutored elementary school children. Beyond her all-consuming task of caring for her family, her work history included serving as a coin counter for York Bus Company, a telephone operator, a schoolteacher at Risser’s one-room schoolhouse on Hershey Road, a receptionist in a doctor’s office, and later, as the manager of the LGH Gift Shop at Women & Babies Hospital, Lancaster, for ten years. In her youth, Joy studied tap dancing, played field hockey and basketball, and could be found climbing trees and roller skating down the street with her friend. Her gifts revolved around her intellect, faith, and love of art and music; she played the piano and violin and sang beautifully. Joy created detailed clothing, knitted sweaters for her family, and was an excellent cook, known for her apple and lemon sponge pies. Momma Joy instilled a love of the outdoors in her children, whether growing flowers, hiking through the woods at Governor Dick, or walking along the beach. Joy was a giver: she brought smiles to so many by giving the gift of hospitality and care to all she met, somehow finding time to write cards and letters to penpals around the world. In addition to her husband Jim, Joy is survived by children Holly, wife of Henry Miller, Strasburg; Merry, wife of Al Muzychka, Philadelphia; Jennifer, wife of Keith Kreiser, Columbia; Valerie Shreiner, Ephrata; Jerry Leber, Elizabethtown, Patrick Leber (wife Jennifer), Elizabethtown; Michael Leber (wife Lisa), Enola; Matthew Leber (wife Deniece), Manheim; Clifford Leber, Elizabethtown. Joy is survived by nine grandchildren: Nate Leber, Luke Miller, Amanda Macasevich, Amelia Miller, Andrew Leber, Laken Leber, Karlie Leber, Molly Leber, Grace Leber; and six great-grandchildren: Gabby, Airiona, Aleaha and Rinzler Leber, Mattaya and Mason Compton. Joy joins her son, Mark Alan Leber, in eternal life. A celebration of Joy’s life and resurrection will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 398 N. Locust Street, Elizabethtown PA 17022 on Wednesday, January 10, at 11 a.m. Visitation of family and friends will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. The Rev. Dr. David Woolverton will officiate. The family wishes to thank the staff of Evergreen at Masonic Village for their special care. Interment will take place at Mount Tunnel Cemetery.

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Joy R. Leber

May 20, 1930 - January 4, 2024