Esther Joyce Ettinger York, 83, formerly of 1100 Yankee Bush Road, went home to be with Jesus on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at the Rouse Home, surrounded by her family.

Joyce was born November 16, 1928, in Warren, the daughter of the late William and Ester Lawson Ettinger.

Joyce enjoyed spending time with her husband and her family whom she always put first before her wants and needs.  She enjoyed gardening on the family dairy farm in the summer and knitting with her knitting machine in the winter.  She was a fabulous seamstress and made all of her own clothes.

Joyce was an accomplished violinist and as a young woman played in the Warren Civic Orchestra. Later in life she enjoyed playing for the Calvary Chapel Worship Band and playing with several of her grandchildren, which she inspired to play violin.

As a young woman, Joyce worked at the Bell Telephone Company.  After marrying her husband on November 12, 1949 she became a homemaker and raised her four children.  She worked along side her husband on the family dairy farm, and later worked for ten years at the Warren State Hospital in the housekeeping department.

Joyce found her ultimate purpose in life through her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.  She loved her Bible and her daily devotions with her husband David.  Her favorite hymn was "In the Garden".  She loved Southern Gospel music, especially the Cathedrals and Ernie Haas and for many years never missed the annual Southern Gospel Music Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.  She loved her church and was an inspiration to her family and those around her.  To them, she was a perfect example of a Godly women found in Proverbs 31.

She is survived by, four children, Dr. David York and his wife Phyllis, Valencia, Pa., Pastor Jeffrey York and his wife Kim, Kathy White and her husband Keith, and Chris Hoskin and her husband Bob, all of Warren; nine grandchildren Pastor David York and his wife Laura,  Christie Nelson, Micah York, Kaylyn York, Melissa McNett and her husband Nate, Matt White and his wife Marybeth, Joshua Newark and his wife Janelle, Nic Hoskin and Nate Hoskin; six great grandchildren, Jakob Newark, Jackson Newark Winters, Landon Newark, Haley McNett, Lily White and Ivy York; three sisters, Autumn Doherty, Adelade Welsh and JoAnn Dorrion; along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of sixty two years, David York, whom she married on November 12, 1949 and whom passed away on December 26, 2011, and a grandson, Jeremiah Newark.

Friends will be received for one hour prior to a 7:00 p.m. Celebration of Life Service at the Calvary Chapel Church, Russell, Pa., on Thursday, June 21, 2012,  with Joyce's son, Pastor Jeff and grandson, Pastor David, co-officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Calvary Chapel of Russell, 8160 Market Street, Ext., Russell, PA 16345.

The Peterson – Blick Funeral Home, Inc. has been entrusted with arrangements.