Joyce Marsden

Joyce F. Marsden, 59

WEST BOYLSTON - Joyce F. (Blackmer) Marsden, 59, of West Boylston, died surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a long fight with breast cancer.

She leaves her husband of 35 years, Philip D. Marsden; three sons, Timothy B. Marsden of West Boylston, Daniel M. Marsden of Washington, D.C., and James E. Marsden of Sterling; two sisters, Carol A. Creen and her husband Andrew of Worcester, and Lynne M. Long and her husband Michael of Worcester; two brothers, Paul W. Blackmer III and his wife Kathy of Wells, Maine, and David Blackmer of Worcester; and many nieces and nephews. Her sister Suzanne M. Kasper died in 1985.

Joyce was born in Worcester, daughter of Paul W. Blackmer Jr. and Ruth F. (Monahan) Blackmer. She has lived in West Boylston for 27 years.

Joyce was a graduate of Burncoat High School in Worcester and Westfield State College. She earned her master's degree in education from Cambridge College.

She was a teacher for many years in the Worcester Public Schools, and for the last ten years she taught second grade at Quinsigamond Elementary School.

She was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish.

Joyce loved the outdoors. She enjoyed a wide variety of activities around the natural world, especially birdwatching. She cherished her many vacations at Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire. She also enjoyed listening to and playing all kinds of music on her guitar.

Calling hours are Monday, October 30, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester. The funeral will be Tuesday, October 31, from the funeral home with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 111 Worcester St., West Boylston. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery, Worcester.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Massachusetts General Hospital Healing Garden, where she found peace in her final hours.