1930
Robert
2016
Robert Joyce
November 28, 1930 — September 6, 2016
Robert W. Joyce
11/28/1930 - 9/6/16
Robert W. (Bob) Joyce of Westford died September 6, 2016 with family by his side at the age of 85. Bob grew up in Somerville, MA where he played football at Somerville High School and graduated with the Class of 1950. While living in Somerville, Bob met the love of his life, Theresa Ann Connolly, who attended St. Joseph High School in Somerville. Bob and Theresa married on January 21, 1956 at St. Joseph’s Church in Somerville and began their journey together which lasted for more than 60 years. In 1958 they moved to Westford, which would be home to them and their four children, Lawrence M. (Larry), Mary T., Robert E. (Robbie), and Jeremiah P., (Jeremy).
Bob served in the U.S. Naval Reserves as a Submariner in the 1950s and spent his professional life in various positions at New England Telephone, reaching the level of Second Level Staff Management. Bob enjoyed skiing and golfing and could fix just about anything. He took pride in building with his hands and would be quick to recognize a job well done. As the kids got older, Bob was always available to help with any project they undertook.
More than anything else, Bob enjoyed spending time with family. Bob was always quick with a laugh and a story. Bob saw everything that happened to him and others as “material”. Sooner or later the family would be laughing about, and sometimes hardly recognizing, events as they were retold.
While considering an early retirement incentive from New England Telephone, Bob became a certified paralegal in anticipation of keeping busy with a second career. However, once he retired, he found himself so busy being a grandfather, picking children up, dropping them off, attending school performances, as well as traveling to California to visit his children and grandchildren, he never did do any paralegal work! In 1987 Bob and Theresa bought a summer home in York Beach, Maine that served as a family gathering place for cookouts, beach outings and overall paradise for the grandchildren for close to thirty years.
Bob was the life of the party, quick with a joke, and always the first on the dance floor with Theresa. He could also be counted on to go the extra mile in very quiet ways as well. He was very generous with his time and attention to anyone who needed help of any sort. He was a lifelong devout Catholic who looked forward to volunteering at St. Catherine’s Church every week. Bob also enjoyed his Boston sports teams, especially the Patriots and Red Sox and attended every victory parade. Although they paled in comparison to the joy he got from attending his grandchildren’s soccer, basketball, baseball and Tae Kwon Do events.
Bob is survived by “his bride” of more than sixty years, Theresa and his four children: Lawrence and wife, Francie, of No. Chelmsford MA; Mary T. and husband, Rick, of Carlsbad, CA; Robert, of Scott’s Valley, CA and Jeremiah and wife, Anita, of Westford, MA and had a particularly close relationship with his loving nieces Ellen Joyce, Virginia (Ginny) Hannigan, his nephew Thomas Joyce and their spouses. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren: Jennifer and Alexandra Brown, Jacqueline, Jessica and Jamie Joyce, Lauren, Alana and Michael Joyce, Sean Kevin Hannigan and Penelope, Jeremiah and Joseph Joyce. Bob is also survived by his sister, Barbara Lucas of Somerville, MA and numerous loving and grateful nieces and nephews.
Bob was predeceased by his brother John, his sister, Mary McDonough, his brother, Thomas, and his sister, Catherine Phelan.
The world is a much better place for Bob’s having been here, and there are countless tears and broken hearts attesting to the magnitude of his loss.
Visiting Hours will be held at St. Catherine’s of Alexandria Church, 107 North Main Street , Westford on Wednesday. September14, 2016. from 5-8 pm A Funeral Mass will be held at the Church on Thursday September 15 , 2016 at 10 am.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the J.V. Fletcher Library, Memorial Book & Gift Account, 50 Main Street, Westford, MA 01886. Please see www.badgerfuneral.com
11/28/1930 - 9/6/16
Robert W. (Bob) Joyce of Westford died September 6, 2016 with family by his side at the age of 85. Bob grew up in Somerville, MA where he played football at Somerville High School and graduated with the Class of 1950. While living in Somerville, Bob met the love of his life, Theresa Ann Connolly, who attended St. Joseph High School in Somerville. Bob and Theresa married on January 21, 1956 at St. Joseph’s Church in Somerville and began their journey together which lasted for more than 60 years. In 1958 they moved to Westford, which would be home to them and their four children, Lawrence M. (Larry), Mary T., Robert E. (Robbie), and Jeremiah P., (Jeremy).
Bob served in the U.S. Naval Reserves as a Submariner in the 1950s and spent his professional life in various positions at New England Telephone, reaching the level of Second Level Staff Management. Bob enjoyed skiing and golfing and could fix just about anything. He took pride in building with his hands and would be quick to recognize a job well done. As the kids got older, Bob was always available to help with any project they undertook.
More than anything else, Bob enjoyed spending time with family. Bob was always quick with a laugh and a story. Bob saw everything that happened to him and others as “material”. Sooner or later the family would be laughing about, and sometimes hardly recognizing, events as they were retold.
While considering an early retirement incentive from New England Telephone, Bob became a certified paralegal in anticipation of keeping busy with a second career. However, once he retired, he found himself so busy being a grandfather, picking children up, dropping them off, attending school performances, as well as traveling to California to visit his children and grandchildren, he never did do any paralegal work! In 1987 Bob and Theresa bought a summer home in York Beach, Maine that served as a family gathering place for cookouts, beach outings and overall paradise for the grandchildren for close to thirty years.
Bob was the life of the party, quick with a joke, and always the first on the dance floor with Theresa. He could also be counted on to go the extra mile in very quiet ways as well. He was very generous with his time and attention to anyone who needed help of any sort. He was a lifelong devout Catholic who looked forward to volunteering at St. Catherine’s Church every week. Bob also enjoyed his Boston sports teams, especially the Patriots and Red Sox and attended every victory parade. Although they paled in comparison to the joy he got from attending his grandchildren’s soccer, basketball, baseball and Tae Kwon Do events.
Bob is survived by “his bride” of more than sixty years, Theresa and his four children: Lawrence and wife, Francie, of No. Chelmsford MA; Mary T. and husband, Rick, of Carlsbad, CA; Robert, of Scott’s Valley, CA and Jeremiah and wife, Anita, of Westford, MA and had a particularly close relationship with his loving nieces Ellen Joyce, Virginia (Ginny) Hannigan, his nephew Thomas Joyce and their spouses. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren: Jennifer and Alexandra Brown, Jacqueline, Jessica and Jamie Joyce, Lauren, Alana and Michael Joyce, Sean Kevin Hannigan and Penelope, Jeremiah and Joseph Joyce. Bob is also survived by his sister, Barbara Lucas of Somerville, MA and numerous loving and grateful nieces and nephews.
Bob was predeceased by his brother John, his sister, Mary McDonough, his brother, Thomas, and his sister, Catherine Phelan.
The world is a much better place for Bob’s having been here, and there are countless tears and broken hearts attesting to the magnitude of his loss.
Visiting Hours will be held at St. Catherine’s of Alexandria Church, 107 North Main Street , Westford on Wednesday. September14, 2016. from 5-8 pm A Funeral Mass will be held at the Church on Thursday September 15 , 2016 at 10 am.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the J.V. Fletcher Library, Memorial Book & Gift Account, 50 Main Street, Westford, MA 01886. Please see www.badgerfuneral.com
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