Joyce B. Hewitt Lankton, loving wife, mother, and grandmother,passed away on February 15, 2021, at age 85.

Joyce was born on January 27, 1936 in Chicago to Frank and Helen Beall (both deceased). She attended Farragut High School before graduating with a teaching degree from Chicago Teachers College. Joyce taught kindergarten, and served as the children’s librarian at La Grange Public Library. Later, Joyce earned a Masters degree in Library Science from Rosary College in River Forest, and served as Children’s Librarian at Lieb Grammar School in Bridgeview until her retirement. Throughout her life, Joyce showed interest, affection and respect for every child she met, believing each was special, and she retained her own childlike wonder as she moved through the world.

Joyce married Mark Clark Hewitt (deceased), whom she met at Chicago Teachers College, in 1958. They raised three children, David (Emily) Hewitt, Susan Hewitt, and Douglas (Carol) Hewitt.  She has two grandchildren, Ryan Hewitt and Melanie Hewitt (Michael) Childress. Late in life, Joyce married Charles Lankton (deceased).

Joyce was a passionate, life-long learner. An avid traveler and explorer, she logged thousands of miles stateside and abroad. Joyce was an accomplished storyteller and public speaker, developing a program celebrating notable women of history which she presented to groups throughout the southwest suburbs. She was a docent at the Graue Mill & Museum in Oak Brook, and an active member of P.E.O., Questers, the Children’s Reading Roundtable, and Methodist Women’s Club. Joyce was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church of Western Springs, where she served as director of the children’s choir and sang soprano in the chancel choir. Joyce was also an attendee of Community Presbyterian Church of Clarendon Hills.

Joyce’s indefatigable curiosity introduced her to interests that sustained her for a lifetime. In her travels, she collected Native American art, nativity scenes, nesting dolls, and owls. She loved music, sewing, and baking. She was an avid reader, and WGN’s Kathy & Judy’s biggest fan. Throughout her life, Joyce found satisfaction in holding holiday celebrations for her family, and graciously hosted many parties and gatherings for friends.

An online Celebration of Life will be hosted by GatheringUS at 2:00 PM Central on Sunday March 28, 2021. Details will be posted on this website, https://www.gatheringus.com/memorial/joyce-b-hewitt-lankton/6803. Family and friends are also encouraged to share their contact email with RememberingJoyceH@gmail.com, from which details will also be distributed.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Tyler Duelm Memorial Fund at the La Grange Public Library. Donations to this fund go toward special programming for the Children’s Library. To donate, follow this link https://www.lagrangelibrary.org/visit/kids/tyler-time to find the donation form. You can also donate by using this link https://www.lagrangelibrary.org/about/donate to the donation page. Please include in the notes the donation is for the Tyler Duelm Memorial Fund, In Memory of Joyce B. Hewitt Lankton.