Mary Joyce Eppensteiner

Mary Joyce Eppensteiner, born July 2, 1936, passed away on June 14, 2026. She was preceded in death by her father, John (Jack) Eppensteiner; her mother, Marjorie Powers Eppensteiner; her sister, Marjorie Salinas; her brother-in-law, Richard Salinas; and the Brennan cousins. Joyce is survived by her brother John, sister-in-law Janis, nephews John (wife Jamie and children Aedan and Ruthie), Alex (wife Hannah and children Mary Ann and Henry), and Ross, and niece Rose (husband Raul).

Joyce earned her nursing degree from Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing and later her Bachelor of Science from Mount St. Joseph University. She spent many proud years as an RN at Deaconess Hospital. In retirement, she joined the staff at Winton Woods Golf Course and took full advantage of the complimentary rounds!

Her friends knew her as a true sports enthusiast: swimmer, golfer, walker, and dedicated exerciser. When she wasn't competing herself, Joyce cheered on the Reds and college basketball teams from Xavier, UC, and Duke. Her competitive spirit found outlets in Scrabble, bingo, trivia contests, and Wii Sports. In retirement, she channeled it into the Senior Olympics, where she earned multiple medals in track and field.

Joyce loved to travel, with a particular fondness for the Southwest. She sought out dude ranches offering hiking, swimming, and horseback riding. It was on one such sunrise breakfast ride that she had a brush with stardom and found herself face to face with Paul McCartney. A lifelong learner with a deep love of reading and a special passion for history, she organized and managed the library at her home at Western Hills Retirement Village.

She will be remembered for shopping trips to Dollar Tree, sweet tea from McDonald's, brisk walks to Duebbers Carryout for her Powerade supply, and the occasional glass of Irish whiskey. Her legacy continues to inspire everyone who knew her. The Eppensteiner family expresses their sincere gratitude to the dedicated caregivers of Western Hills Retirement Village and Vitas Hospice Care for their loving care, compassion and support that they provided to Joyce.

Family and friends are invited to honor Joyce on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 3:00-5:00 PM, with a blessing immediately following, at Radel Funeral Home, 650 Neeb Road, Cincinnati, OH 45233. Memorial contributions may be made to the Library Foundation of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 800 Vine St., Cincinnati OH 45202 or online @supportchpl.org.