Joyce Kay (Thompson) Hafer

Joyce Kay Hafer, 68 years young, of Indianapolis, joined her late husband Don, on Thursday, August 26, 2021.  She was born on October 21, 1952 in Boise, Idaho, and raised by the late Zena (Yarbro) Thompson.  She married her high school sweetheart, Donald Charles Hafer, in 1979 and they had 30 wonderful years together prior to his death in 2009.

Joyce had a huge heart.  She was selfless, caring, generous, and had a genuine love for people and helping people.  She spent more than 35 years of her life as a nurse in mental healthcare.  She loved her friends and family and prioritized her children and grandchildren above all else.  She was not only a wonderful mother to her three children but was also a mom to every child that walked through her front door.  She had a love for music and made lifelong friends singing with the group People Helping People.  She had a passion for education, so much so, that her husband joked she was forever a student that collected degrees.  A few of her other passions in life included after-holiday clearance sales, furnishing everyone’s first apartments with all her extra stuff, being a fiercely independent woman, long conversations with loved ones (or anyone sitting next to her), and strawberry lemonade.  She will truly be missed by everyone that knew her.

Survivors include her children, Dax Cristian Hafer, Katherine Marie Hafer, and Jordan Sophia Hafer; siblings, Emily S. Miles, Donna J. Nylander (Doug), Linda G. Catron (Rich) and Mark Thompson (Barbara); grandchildren, Ariel Shaw, Jax Shaw, Sophia Hafer, Chester Bryant, Emma Bryant, and Anna Bryant.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald C. Hafer; her mother, Zena Thompson; daughter-in-law, Amber Hafer; siblings, Stan Thompson and Pamela M. Monnig and niece, Kabrina K. Hafer.  

Family and friends will gather on Thursday, September 2, 2021 from 5 to 7 p.m. in Lauck & Veldhof Funeral & Cremation Services, 1458 S. Meridian St., a service celebrating her life will follow at 7 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions have been suggested to Children International or anything that helps children in need or those with mental illness.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.LauckFuneralHome.com

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