Joyce Ann Wagner

Joyce Ann (Tillapaugh) Wagner, 71, of Syracuse, New York, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2026.

Joyce was born on October 5, 1955, in Syracuse, New York, to Frederick and Ida Tillapaugh. She was raised in Syracuse and graduated from Corcoran High School.

In 1973, Joyce married Roy Straub. Their first child, Michael, was born in Indiana in 1974. As a young Air Force family, they subsequently moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where their daughter Rebecca was born in 1976 and their son Robert in 1988. Joyce spent much of her adult life in Alaska, where she worked as a bookkeeper and raised her family.

After Joyce and Roy divorced in 2004, she left Alaska and spent time in several parts of the country, including Arizona and Massachusetts, before eventually returning to her hometown of Syracuse to be closer to family. She married Peter Wagner in 2007, but they subsequently separated. In Syracuse, Joyce worked as an inventory specialist and remained in the area for the rest of her life.

Joyce enjoyed spending time with family and had a lifelong love of bingo and crafts, particularly crochet and plastic canvas needlework. She enjoyed going to bingo, especially with her mom and sisters, and served occasionally as a caller at Brighton Towers bingo nights. She was also a talented and creative crocheter who sometimes developed her own designs, even recreating favorite characters from pictures and coloring books in blankets, sweaters, and other projects.

Joyce is survived by her three children, Michael Straub and his wife, Michell; Rebecca (Straub) Novak and her husband, Christopher; and Robert Straub and his wife, Emily; six grandchildren, Courtney and Autumn Straub, Samantha and Joseph Novak, and Elijah and Rachell Straub; and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Diana Maneilly and Ruth Ohmann, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.

She was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Gloria; her brother, Fred; and her niece, Kim.

Joyce will be remembered with love by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters, and extended family. They will carry with them a lifetime of memories, including the ordinary moments that become especially meaningful with time.

Following cremation, Joyce will be laid to rest at Fyler Settlement Cemetery at a later date.

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to the staff at PACE CNY for their exceptional and compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in Joyce's memory to support their vital elder care services. Gifts can be made online at pacecny.org or by mail to The Loretto Foundation, 700 E. Brighton Ave., Syracuse. NY, 13205.

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