Joyce Fisher Lefens, 98

She mowed her Belle Mead half acre until she was 92

April 13, 1927 — January 31, 2026

Joyce Fisher Lefens, 98, of Belle Mead, NJ, died peacefully at home of congestive heart failure on January 31, 2026 with family by her side. She was born in Fairfield Township, MI on April 13, 1927, the youngest of Harry and Iva Fisher’s five children.

Joyce merrily skipped through her childhood in Howell, MI. As a young girl she rode on the handlebars of her dad’s Harley Davidson and swam every day in the summertime.

Having grown up in the Depression, Joyce lived by “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” She was an upholsterer, seamstress, gardener, wall-paperer, and could mend anything from a hole in jeans to faulty wiring.

Joyce was the first in her family to attend college, going to Alma College for two years, where she met her husband, Marv Lefens. They were married on June 30, 1950 and had their children in Michigan before moving to New Jersey in 1960.  

While raising her four children, she returned to school and completed her undergraduate degree in Home Economics, with High Honors, at Rutgers University. She went on to complete her Master of Science degree at Rutgers. She taught at St. Peter’s School of Nursing.

She was a pillar of Harlingen Church for 60 years. Joyce served on many of the church’s boards and committees and was instrumental in helping the church survive in the 1980s.

Joyce was an accomplished and self-taught gourmet cook. Her joy of lifelong learning, curiosity and love of research were all fulfilled in cooking. She loved all delicious tastes and loved feeding hungry people.

At 6 pm sharp every night, her family was required to sit at the dinner table together, no questions. Her table was home to extremely animated discussions ranging from the political (Vietnam) to the cultural (Lord of the Rings) with no shortage of strongly held opinions. Express a weak argument at your peril. The laughter and hilarity matched the debating. Spill your food and you would be mocked with the Wonder Winner song.

Joyce had a lead foot which put her in good stead when racing Porsches and she had the trophies to prove it.

Joyce lived independently and maintained her own home until the last three months of her life. She mowed her half acre until she was 92 and led her bible study until she was 94. Her greatest joy was her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Joyce was a beacon of virtue, teaching her children by example. She lived a life of fortitude.

Joyce was preceded in death by husband Marv and son Timothy. She is survived by children Mark Lefens of Bozeman, Betsy Peterson (Steve) of Chicago, Sara Donaldson (Jock) of Minneapolis; grandchildren Leah Lefens, Jack (Katie), Henry (Laura), Sophie (Josh), Leah Kammerman (Danny), Emma (Adam), Sam Peterson, Sam Donaldson (Melissa), Lucy (Doug), and William; and 12 great-grandchildren Luca, Max, Sadie, Shelby, Raymond, Irving, Sally Joyce, Leo, Isabella, John Mateo, Silas, and George.

The memorial service will be on Saturday, April 11 at 2:00 pm at Harlingen Church in Belle Mead, NJ.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to A.R.T. 3763 Bethman Rd, Easton PA 18045 or to Foundation Fighting Blindness, 12 Nassau St, Princeton, NJ