Joyce Bennett Van Cura, of Riverside, died at home of cancer on Nov. 7, 2022. She was 78 years old.
Ms. Van Cura was born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1944, the daughter of the Rev. Ralph and Marie Bennett. She graduated from Bradley University and earned a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Illinois.
She worked with progressive responsibility at the libraries of Caterpillar, Illinois Central College, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Illinois Springfield and was the director of the Learning Resource Center at Morton College.
Ms. Van Cura presented nationally on topics including library instruction, women’s studies, and leadership development.
She was very active in many organizations of the community, the arts and her church, including as president of the Springfield chapter of the National Organization of Women, an elder and deacon at the Riverside Presbyterian Church, an advisory board member of the Suburban Library System, the National Commission of Learning Resources, on the board of directors of the Berwyn-Cicero Council on Aging, as vice president of the Riverside Chapter of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, as a Democratic precinct committee woman, on the board of the Riverside American Association of University Women and as chaplain and recording secretary of the Riverside CH Chapter of P.E.O., among many others, and was recognized as an Illinois state scholar.
Ms. Van Cura is survived by her beloved husband of 36 years, E. Jay Van Cura M.D., her sister Jana Stewart and her brother Gregory Bennett. Her brother Ralph Bennett predeceased her.
A memorial service will be held at the Riverside Presbyterian church on Friday, Nov. 18 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made in Joyce Van Cura‘s memory to the Riverside Presbyterian church piano fund. She will be interred at a later date.
