Obituary of Patricia "Joy" Welch

Patricia "Joy" Welch, 81, of Niles, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, after a battle with COPD.

Joy was born on April 6, 1937, to the late Lyle and Bessie (Clary) Tuttle in South Bend, Indiana. After graduating from Riley High School, she attended Ball State College and later worked at the library at the University of Notre Dame and the South Bend Tribune. In 1987, she joined the team and retired from the Big Lots store in Niles in 2006. On April 28, 1962, Joy and Nathan Welch Sr. were married and soon were blessed with a son and daughter. While their children were growing up Joy was always the "neighborhood mom" because she enjoyed caring for others. Joy and her daughter, Penny, enjoyed planting and taking care of the gardens at Joy's home. After she retired she took some camping trips throughout the west with her brother Don, learning about and enjoying the rocky mountains, red rock country, and wild rivers. Joy had a love for all animals especially horses. She liked antiquing, collecting dolls and horses, and owned a horse of her own when she was younger. She loved her two cats, Pinky and Molly, who miss her and Nate immensely.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Nate Sr. with whom she celebrated her 56th anniversary in April. Nate passed away in May, just five weeks before Joy.

She is survived by her children, Nathan (Traci) Welch Jr. of Niles and Penny (Jim) Lecklider of South Bend; grandchildren, Nathan (Shelby) Welch III of Dowagiac and Kyle Welch of Niles; brother, Donald (Andrea) Tuttle of Arcata, California; and many extended family members and close friends.

A time of visitation will be held at Brown Funeral Home in Niles on Monday, June 25, 2018, from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. with a committal service to follow in South Bend at Riverview Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Joy's memory to Pet Refuge.