Joanne Nice

Joanne M. Kratz Nice, 87, went to be with Jesus on September 27, 2026, in Sellersville, PA. She had been living in her own apartment at Living Branches community in Souderton and was happy and active up until her sudden cardiac event. She died painlessly and peacefully.

She was the loving wife of the late Floyd Derstein Nice for 66 years. She was the loving mother of Andrew J. (Tricia), Telford, Pa, and Nicole J. Nice Hewett (Randy), Pittsville MD, and loving grandmother to Ashlynn Wisniewski (Charles), Dagsboro DE and Felicity Brininger, Salisbury MD, and step grandsons Zachary Hunter and Jacob Hunter of Telford PA.

Joanne was born on July 27, 1939, in Sellersville PA. She grew up on a dairy farm in Morwood PA (Telford), where she was the second of five children born to Wilson L. Kratz Jr. and Bertha C. Moyer Kratz.

The first two years of married life were spent in Cleveland, Ohio, where both were employed at University Hospitals of Cleveland, in 1-W alternate service.

After returning from Ohio, they built a house on the family farm property and began their own family. Andrew joined them in 1967 and Nicole in 1970. Joanne greatly enjoyed her preschoolers and when they were ready to go to elementary school, she began to think of part time employment. She pursued an opportunity at the Souderton Mennonite Church office where she was a member. Part time work became full time work over the course of over 30 years, starting as one of the first secretaries of the church and finishing as Administrative Assistant. Over the course of those years, she assisted eleven different pastors. She also held many other various volunteer positions over the years at SMC, ending with serving on the Pastoral Care Team for 20 years. Visits to hospitals or retirement homes were a joy in her life.

Joanne also served on various wider church boards: Franconia Mennonite Conference Council, MCC Material Resource Center of Harleysville where she served three 3-year terms, and she was on the original board for the Worm Project.

As a cancer survivor herself, she volunteered with the Reach to Recovery program of the American Cancer Society for a number of years.

Joanne was energized by her relationships, whether it was with her Lord, husband, children, grandchildren, extended family, friends or church family. She also enjoyed walking, reading and quilting. And she loved watching Philles games. Joanne will be especially remembered by her kindness to others, community service, quick wit and great sense of humor. She had a sparkling and infectious smile and she will be sorely missed by so many.

Along with her children and grandchildren, she is survived by two sisters: Evelyn Kratz (Pamela French) and Karen Potts (Douglas) and her sister-in-law, Anne Kratz. Preceding her in death along with her parents and husband were granddaughter Alexis Brininger, sister Esther Ruth, brother Wilson M. Kratz III, and brother-in-law Donald Ruth.

A celebration of Life will be held on Friday October 2 at 12pm at the Williams- Bergey- Koffel Funeral Home, 667 Harleysville Pike, Telford, PA 18969. Family Visitation will follow until 2:30pm. For those unable to attend the celebration at 12pm, it can be viewed via livestream by clicking HERE.

Contributions in her memory can be made to: MCC Material Resource Center of Harleysville, 737 Hagey Center Drive, Unit C, Souderton, PA 18164 or to The Worm Project, c/o Mosaic Mennonite Conference, 1000 Forty Foot Road, Lansdale, PA 19446.