Joyce M. Ouellette

Joyce M. Ouellette, 80, of Stafford Springs, wife of the late Robert L. Ouellette, passed away at home on Monday, Sept. 13, 2022.

She was born in Hartford, daughter of the late Gordon and Ruth (Finlay) Miller. A lifelong tag saler and collector, to the chagrin of many tag sale hosts, mom would sneak out on Saturday mornings to offer to help people set up their goods at the crack of dawn, then had the friendly, smiling boldness to comment on their high prices. Her doll, bear, and spontaneous collecting habits were notorious, forcing dad to constantly add more shelves, storage rooms, and garage bays. Mom always saw the goodness in things, quickly assigning a mental value to anything she liked, justifying it's purchase to dad, then, somehow, finding a rare open location in our house to lovingly showcase her new item, even if it meant nudging a few kids pictures out of the way. Above all, she was a devoted wife and loving mother and grandmother, family meant everything to her.

Joyce is survived by her eight children, Dan Ouellette, Tina Reed, Pam Proulx and her husband, Robert, David Benton, Kevin Benton and his wife, Michelle, Cynthia Brown and her husband, Chad, Christopher Ouellette and his wife, Tina, and Jennifer Ouellette and her fiancé, Chris Mokrzecki; 18 grandchildren, Sarah, Patty, Ryan, Melissa, Mark, Mathew, Jacob, Joseph, Avery, Remi, Lauren, Cameron, Delaney, Tyler, Joshua, Alei, Jake, and Max; her twin sister, Janet Battalino and her husband, Donald; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Beverly Johnson; and brother, Bruce Miller.

Her funeral will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, with a procession forming by 9 a.m., at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., at St. Edward Church, 55 High St., Stafford Springs. Burial will follow in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Calling hours are on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

For online condolences or directions, please visit www.introvignefuneralhome.com