Joyce Evelyn (Peterson) Spengler, 86, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in her home in Northampton, Pennsylvania.

Born December 24, 1939, to John and Anna Peterson of Pennsauken, New Jersey, Joyce attended Merchantville High School and went on to graduate from Lincoln Preparatory School. She spent her summers in Ocean City and Brown’s Mills, New Jersey, with her family and had many adventures carousing with her close cousins, Lois and Elaine. She also trained to sing opera and was an accomplished piano player.

Joyce met her husband of almost 60 years, Gerald, in 1965 and they were married in August 1966. They went on to have two children.

A talented seamstress, Joyce worked for 35 years in the profession, including more than 20 years at Cross Country Clothes. She used her sewing skills to handcraft beautiful clothing and gifts for her family and friends and enjoyed sharing her talents with others. She was exceedingly creative and loved painting ceramics, drawing and crafts.

A lifelong lover of the beach, Joyce loved nothing more than walking along the shore and finding seashells and sea glass. She loved camping and made lasting memories with her family on numerous camping adventures in their beloved Jayco pop-up camper. At home, she loved to sit at the kitchen table and catch up over coffee and Entenmann’s coffee cake, and she loved to go shopping for the latest deals.

Later in life, she returned to college and graduated from Allentown Business School in 1995 with an associates degree in specialized business operations. She worked successfully in the industry until 2005, when she and Gerald retired to Myrtle Beach and continued to enjoy the ocean and living near the beach.

Joyce lived a life marked by strength, courage and deep devotion to her family. She will be remembered for her smile, her laugh, her sassiness, her sense of humor and her legacy of love that lives on in everyone who knew her.

She leaves behind her husband, Gerald Lee Spengler; son, Jeffrey T. Spengler; daughter, Jeanne S. Latshaw; two grandchildren, Bailey and Dane; and three children, Scott, Dawn and Pat, from a previous relationship. Joyce was preceded in death by her sister, Joan.

Family and friends may gather on Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Reichel Funeral Home, 326 E. 21st Street, Northampton, PA 18067. Funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. Interment will take place at Cedar Hill Memorial Park followed by lunch at 1 p.m. at Northampton Liederkranz.

In lieu of donations, the family is asking people to do a good deed or kindness for someone in Joyce’s honor.