Joyce (LaFontaine) Collette of De Pere passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, August 18, 2014. She was born to the late Fred and Esther (Detterman) LaFontaine on June 5, 1928 in Milford, Iowa. Joyce was a 1946 graduate of Villa Maria Academy in Frontenac, MN. She later attended Iowa State College.
On November 20, 1954 Joyce married Richard "Dick" Collette in Madison, Wisconsin where they lived until army life moved them to Sacramento, CA. They later returned to Dick's hometown of De Pere, Wisconsin where they lived for 57 years. She was an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. The love of Joyce's life was volunteering and helping people in any way that she could. Joyce's mother taught her that, "The more God has given you, the more you should give back" and she truly believed and lived that. One of her achievements was aiding in the establishment of Birthright in the Green Bay area, volunteering at St. Vincent De Paul, and 30 years of delivering Mobil Meals with her loyal friend Doris. Joyce loved life in De Pere and the beauty of the eagles at Maiden Lake; she loved her family and her kind loving husband Richard.
She is survived by her husband, Richard "Dick" Collette, her children, Amy Collette, Scottsdale, Az., Joe (Kim) Collette, Green Bay, Francis (Kathy) Collette, Carlsbad, CA., Mary Pat (Tom) Berken, De Pere, and Peter (Laura) Collette, DeLand, Fl. Joyce is further survived by her grandchildren, Jenna, Garrett, Dustin, Nicholas, Terrance, Logan, Dalton, Austin, Jason (Emily), Courtney, Abby (Pete), and her great granddaughter Hadley. Her sister Jean Kizer, sister in law Sue (Gary) Yakoubek, and brother in law Mike (Shirley) Collette, as well as numerous nieces and nephews survive her.
She was preceded in death by her sister in law Jackie (Robert) Kelliher.
Friends may call at the RYAN FUNERAL HOME 305 N. Tenth Street, De Pere from 4 7pm Friday August 22, 2014. Visitation will continue after 12:30pm Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, corner of Lourdes Ave and Suburban Drive in De Pere, until the Mass of Christian Burial at 2:00pm with Fr. Tim Shillcox O.Praem and Deacon Mike VanderBloomen officiating burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Please go to www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the family. The Collette family requests in Lieu of flowers a memorial fund will be established.
