Innately made those around her feel loved and appreciated
TEWKSBURY — Rosemary R. Joyce, 83, of Tewksbury, formerly of North Reading, passed away suddenly on November 12, 2021.
Rosemary was born on June 8, 1938 to Charles and Mary Reagan in North Adams. After graduating from Saint Joseph’s High School in Pittsfield in 1956, she went on to study X-ray technology at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Pittsfield and became a registered X-ray technician.
In 1956, she met John Edmund Joyce during their senior year of high school and they wed in 1961, going on to have three children, Kelly, John and Amy.
When Rosemary had her three children she was living in Fort Bragg, North Carolina where John Sr. was stationed with the Air Force. She was an independent force in raising her three children while her husband was traveling globally, including substantial time spent in Vietnam.
As the family grew to include John Jr. in 1965 and Amy in 1968, Rosemary and John Sr. decided to leave the Air Force and move the family to North Reading.
After being an absolutely awesome stay-at-home Mom for many years, Rosemary found it was time to share her many talents with the rest of the world and launched a career working at a local bank in Wilmington where she worked for many years. Subsequently, Rosemary joined the team it seems she was destined to grace – the North Reading Town Hall. In this chapter of her life, Rosemary established some of the most impactful and everlasting friendships with her colleagues.
When it comes to hobbies, Rosemary broadened her horizons over time by mastering many amazing skills including sewing clothes for her daughters, making beautiful pinecone wreaths, knitting, quilting and needlepoint. She may have been best known for her thoughtful and creative baby burp cloths she made for each of her grandchildren.
Rosemary also assumed the role as the best Nana/Nini a child could ever experience. She was absolutely adored by her grandchildren, Colleen, Connor, Jack, Lydia, Molly, and Clare. They all cherished Rosemary’s cooking, her big hugs, and sleeping over at her cozy house.
It is impossible to overstate how much we are all going to miss Rosemary, as she had an innate quality of making us feel acknowledged, loved, and appreciated. We love you.
Her funeral was held from the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St., North Reading on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 9:30 a.m. followed by her funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St. (Rte. 62), North Reading at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends paid their respects at the funeral home Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 4-7 p.m. Interment was at Riverside Cemetery, North Reading.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rosemary’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.cotafuneralhomes.com.
