Joyce Marlene Tirella

Joyce Tirella has crossed over. I had the honor to sit vigil with her throughout the night prior. She was as comfortable and peaceful as I would think one could be during this transformational process. She left her earth body quietly and gently the morning of July 17, 2026.

Joyce Marlene McFadden was born June 5, 1939, in Dennison, Ohio, the day before her mother’s birthday. She grew up on her family’s farm near Cadiz, Ohio. As an only child, she became very close with cousins and school friends. She spoke fondly of her time with these chosen individuals.

My mom was very active in high school. She loved being a majorette, performing in many of the high school plays, taking on leadership roles, and graduating with honors from Freeport High School in Freeport, Ohio. She longingly reminisced of her school days.

It’s funny how we sometimes don’t see our parents in a certain way. It wasn’t until my later adult years that I realized what an adventurous spirit our mom had. After graduation Joyce ventured to Orlando, Florida. There she landed a clerical job at Lockheed Martin. She proudly purchased a turquoise convertible with white leather seats. This new life was quite a change from rural Ohio.

The sophisticated time in Florida lasted about 2 years. During lunch breaks at a drug store diner, she met her future mother in law who, as promptly as she could, introduced Joyce to her son, Louis Tirella.

They married July 1960, quit their jobs, sold everything, purchased a wannabe Air Stream and, neither having been west of the Mississippi, set out on a new adventure. They had several stops across the country from the deep south, to the mid west, and on up to the Pacific Northwest. Their stop and stay in Honeyville, Utah was most likely because of the surprise package arriving December 1961, me.

Joyce’s wandering spirit began to slow down with a 3rd in tow. She and my dad thought Albuquerque, New Mexico would be the place to settle in, but no. They hitched the trailer and off they went, to the place which they would settle, Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 1963 they bought a house, on what was then the west edge of Las Vegas, near Jones Boulevard and Alta Drive. A few years later, in 1966, my sister, Lisa, joined and completed our family. It was here my mom did her best to settle in. She was a distributor for Baum Toys, Koscot beauty products, she wrote a biography, and once ran for an elected position on the school board.

In the mid 70’s she took employment with the Clark County School District. Beginning with a clerical position at a 6th grade center, moving on to Garside Junior High, then Spring Mountain Youth Camp, and advanced into a managerial position in the downtown offices. She was a devoted and dedicated employee of the CCSD for nearly 30 years.

Upon retirement, she took up a flexible part time position at NU Equipment. This worked out well for her as she and our dad resurrected their wandering spirits. They began making travel plans and scheduling trips. This time, not from a travel trailer, although they did consider it for a bit, but from a cruise liner. Their first tour was to Alaska which they loved. The next was a rail car trip across eastern United States. Unfortunately our dad got sick and that trip didn’t happen.

After our father’s crossing, Joyce reconnected with her school friends. One dear friend became her world travel companion. They took several cruises together both open sea and river. She toured many countries drinking in the culture and history.

When she wasn’t traveling, she would sit out on her porch sipping wine with her neighbors. Joyce did enjoy a glass or two of wine. These women became the dearest of friends. They would casino hop, take weekend excursions, and travel across the country together.

In 2020, Lisa and I moved our mom up to the Pacific Northwest. She lived with Lisa for a time but the weather was too much. Joyce missed the arid heat of the desert Southwest. Wanting to go back to Las Vegas, she compromised with us and agreed on St George, Utah.

We settled her into an apartment within a newly built assisted living facility. There she made new friends, became one of the staff’s favorite residents, and she read.

Joyce was an avid reader. From her early childhood days reading under a great willow tree on the farm, until her transition, she read. She loved a wide array of genres. Books about cats, dog heroes, history, Las Vegas, UFO’s, graphic novels, biographies, and more.

Of all that Joyce was and did, she had one very cherished and important annual trip, her high school reunion. For about a decade, from 2008 until about 2018, she never missed one. The morning of her crossing happened to be the opening weekend of the annual reunion. Lisa and I are comfortably convinced our mom attended her 69th class reunion.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, LeRoy and Pauline McFadden, her husband Louis Tirella, her son in law Jeff Frehner.

She is survived by 8 grand children. Youngest to oldest; Jeremy Schmidt (Lexie Schmidt), Garth Frehner (Kevin Kohlhauf), Emiley Miller Carvalho (Cody Carvalho), Dillon Frehner (Kasey Frehner), Ashley Miller Dolan (Mike Dolan), Christopher Frehner, Heather Frehner Kirsten (Anthony Kirsten), Morgan Frehner Baldwin (Devin Baldwin)

Joyce is also survived by 13 great grand children. Youngest to oldest; Baby Carvalho due Earthside December 2026, Freya Frehner, Juliana Kirsten, Vhari Frehner, Gavin Kirsten, Kieran Frehner, Maddux Kirsten, Zophi Dolan, Kylie Pugh, Zachary Pugh, Avianna Baldwin, Alex Baldwin, Antigone Baldwin.

And by us, Lisa Schmidt and Julia Frehner. It’s a strange world without our mom. We miss her very much.