Joyce Slattery

In the early morning hours of Monday, November 9, 2009, our Lord Jesus came and took the hand and gentle soul of my beloved sister and cherished auntie of my seven children, Joyce Rebecca Slattery. Joyce was born on October 13, 1957, in Walson Army Hospital in Ft. Dix, N.J., the youngest child of the late Lawrence M. and Adele Florence Slattery and the adored granddaughter of the late Adele M. Collins. She was raised and educated in Browns Mills and Bayville, N.J. until she and our mother moved to Utica in June of 1974. They have been original residents of Six Nations Square for the past 35 years. Joyce graduated from T.R. Proctor High School in 1976 and then completed a course of study at Utica School of Commerce. She was employed with Human Technologies Corp. for over 15 years. What a character our Joyce was! Born with an inherited physical disability that progressed as she grew older, she simply adjusted as her level of immobility increased. You never heard a "why me?" or "I can't" from her in her whole life! She became confined to a motorized wheelchair in the late 90's, and no destination was off limits to her. She tooled around Utica as if her chair were an all-terrain vehicle. Her "alter ego" was as a mail lady– neither rain, snow, sleet, hail, power failures, nor acts of God, deterred her from her excursions! Our family is thankful to the good Samaritans who came to Joyce's aid many times through the years. We finally were able "to bell her" with a cell phone which solved the response time if she remembered to charge it, bring it, not lose it, or get it soaking wet. Joyce was a responsible pet owner and she enjoyed the mutual love of her four cats. Three of "her children" predeceased her – Samantha, Shahairazar and Gremlin; their cremains were placed in an honored location in her home. Her beloved tabby cat Simon survives her. Joyce was an avid supporter of Spring Farm Cares. Nothing would delight her more than her friends and family continuing in her tradition. Joyce was an avid reader. She was also a skilled crafter of bead jewelry and had a 300 plus movie library. Wal-Mart and the Utica Zoo were her favorite destinations. At the age of six, she became Auntie Joyce to the first of her seven nieces and nephews. In the early years she was their playmate, one of their best friends, their babysitter and their 'other mother.' When some of them became "too grown" to live with me, they packed up and went to live with Aunt Joyce for a change of scenery. Because of her abundant love and nurturing, as they grew older these "lucky seven" became her devoted protectors. No need or request was withheld no matter the time, day or night. No stairs were an obstacle to her attendance at any gathering – she simply was carried in their arms or gently thrown over a shoulder of her nephews, Rocky, Andrew or Nelson, Jr. Her love was carried over to her great-nieces and nephews and then to her great-great niece and nephews. Joyce leaves behind her beloved sister, Kathy Tyrrell of Utica; her brother, Tommy of Austin, TX; her niece, Marlene Thompson and her children, Michael Paul Fenimore, Sr., Syreeta Thompson Colon and her husband Will, and George "Pokey" Thompson, III; Marlene's grandchildren, Abriasia Hargrove, Michael Paul Fenimore, Jr., Ethan Isiah Fenimore, and Liam Elijah Colon; her niece, Denise Fenimore and her son Cody Moore, all of Utica; her niece, Cheryl Lynn Cobb and her children, Jilana, C.J., and Nicholas all of Memphis, TN; her niece, Lanette M. Bowen and her husband Dennis and their children, Diamond, and Tianna of Hampton, VA; her nephew, Rocky M. Rock and his children, Joshua, Isabella, and Joey; her nephew, Nelson Wymes, Jr. and his wife Yvonne "Missy" and their children, Jahari, and Madison; and her nephew, Andrew "Drip" Wymes, and his wife Celeste, all of Utica. Also surviving are devoted family members, Nelson Wymes, Sr. and William Peace; and Joyce's cherished and devoted godmother and second cousin, Mrs. Doris Quigg of Nutley, NJ. At one time, Joyce shared a special union with Victor Marchiale of Utica. The family would like to thank all of Joyce's personal care aides with special mention of Laurie, Home and Hospital Supply, the drivers of Centro, Birnie Bus, and Dial-A-Ride. Gratitude is also extended to all the paramedics of Kunkel Ambulance and the Utica Fire Department and the Utica Police Officers who responded to Joyce in times of crisis throughout the years. Please join our family while we remember the good times and say goodbye to 'Our Joyce' on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc. 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. Joyce's Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. at Historic Old St. John's Church with Rev. John Buehler officiating. Joyce will be laid to rest beside her mother in Calvary Cemetery immediately following the Mass.

Joyce Slattery

October 13, 1957 - November 9, 2009