Joy Marie Fausey Steinkraus

Joy Marie Fausey Steinkraus, 57, of Cleveland, GA passed away at her home on Sunday, November 5, 2023 after a courageous two year battle with glioblastoma multiforme, cancer of her brain.

She is survived by her husband of 26 years, John Steinkraus of Cleveland, GA; mother, Judith "Judy" Fausey of Danville, PA; brother, James "Jim" Fausey, Jr. (Renna) of Danville PA; sister, Jill Fausey Gaffoli (John) and their children, Elizabeth (17), Matthew (15) and Jackson (12) of Naples, FL. Predeceased by her father, James Fausey Sr.

Joy was born on June 29, 1966 in Danville, PA. She was a 1984 graduate of Danville High School and 1988 graduate of Gannon University. She began her career as a Physician Assistant at Genesee Hospital and Rochester General in Rochester, NY, where she met John. After 8 years, they moved to Lyme Center, NH to further their careers at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. In 2003, they relocated to Georgia, where she continued to care for people at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. She dedicated her 35 year career to helping others. Having enjoyed and excelled in General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Critical Care Medicine. She and her husband John volunteered for medical mission trips to Haiti and Dominican Republic to perform surgical procedures and care for those in need.  She endured the global pandemic of COVID caring for hundreds of critically ill patients.

In addition to her exemplary medical skills, Joy was also an advocate for others helping anyone that needed it. She provided sage advice even when you didn't want to hear it and she was usually right.  She held those around her to a higher standard. She will be missed for her dogged efforts, sarcastic humor, loyalty, generosity and friendship.

Joy and John's love for hiking and exploring with good friends and family in the Adirondacks has been mirrored in their love for the North Georgia Mountains and the farm they shared in Cleveland. John and Joy have been surrounded by the many pets that they have adopted, way too many to count; and plants, to fuel Joy's love of gardening. Most recently, when she wasn't reading her book with a cup of coffee or glass of wine, snuggled up with her cats Maybelle and Mr. Pickles, you could find Joy in the kitchen cooking up some good food or hiking with John and their dog Lizzy.

In death as in life, she continues to dedicate herself to further medical education by donating her remains. She can only be described as extraordinary.

Memorial services are scheduled for 3:00 PM Saturday, November 18, 2023, at The Chapel of Barrett Funeral Home, 118 N. Brook St. Cleveland, GA 30528. Minister Wayne Wilkes will officiate. A livestream of the service can be found here: https://vimeo.com/event/3860584

The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Saturday, prior to the service at the funeral home.

Following the memorial service, A Celebration of Life will be held at Serenity Cellars, 265 Laurel Ridge Road, Cleveland, GA 30528 from 5:??00 PM to 8:30 PM. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Charles Smithgall Humane Society in Cleveland, GA with checks payable in the same name in honor of Joy, mailed to 4823 Highway 75N, Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571 or by visiting charlessmithgallhumanesociety.org or the American Brain Tumor Association, in support of GBM Research https://www.abta.org/tumor_types/glioblastoma-gbm/.

To share a memory or to leave an online condolence for the family please visit www.barretfh.com.

Barrett Funeral Home, 118 N. Brook St. Cleveland, GA 30528 (706-865-3101).