M. Claire Joyce

M. Claire (Ratelle) Joyce, 92, of Springfield passed away peacefully in her sleep with family at her side on December 20, 2020 at Hospice of the Fisher Home. Claire, daughter of the late Edgar and Catherine (Kelly) Ratelle, was born in Quebec, Canada in 1928. She was raised in Boston and attended Notre Dame Academy where she was awarded a scholarship to attend Boston University. Claire earned a bachelor’s degree from BU. She worked as a legal secretary until she was blessed with the first of her ten children. She held many volunteer positions including her twenty plus years at Birthright of West-ern MA, cooking casserole dishes for Loaves & Fishes Community Kitchen, and Docent at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum. However, her favorite jobs by far were mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Claire was a very kind and loving person who found joy and laughter in the every-day. She was famous for her collection of traditional toys for children of all ages. Claire also enjoyed practical jokes with her fake food, entertaining children with giant soap bubbles and her magic coloring books, and playing Ms. Pac-Man. She enjoyed social games too including weekly bridge with her friends, scrabble with her children, and candlepin bowling with a league of women. She felt incredibly lucky to have a lake house in Otis, MA and enjoyed every moment of time spent there with family & friends. Claire was always ready for a long pontoon ride around the lake. Claire was also a woman of immense faith and parishioner of Holy Cross Church where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. In ad-dition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Alfred C. Joyce. Claire will be missed by all who knew her, including her children, Michael T. Joyce (Debbie) of West Springfield, William F. Joyce (Wendy) of Hopewell Junction, NY, Alfred C. Joyce Jr. (Karen) of East Longmeadow, James E. Joyce (Jane) of Edgartown, MA, Stephen T. Joyce (Edna) of Groton Long Point, CT, Joseph P. Joyce (Ilse) of Vail, CO, M Grace Joyce of Gill, MA, Kathleen A. Joyce of Cicero, NY, John H. Joyce (Lisa) of Longmeadow, and Daniel P. Joyce (Kirstin) of Wilbraham; her grandchildren, Austin, Nicole, Ryan, Kev-in, Alexander, Alana, Adam, James, Patrick, Sean, Brian, Shannon, Alison, Julia, Kelly, Christopher, Cait-lyn, Carolyn, Aidan, Kalli, and Maggie; her great-grandson, Patrick; and many extended family mem-bers and friends. Visiting Hours for Claire will be held Wednesday, December 30, 2020 from 9AM to 10:30AM at Sampson’s Chapel of the Acres, 21 Tinkham Road, Springfield. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow beginning at 11:30 at Holy Cross Church, 221 Plumtree Road, Springfield. Rites of Committal and Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 421 Tinkham Road, Springfield. Her family is forever grateful to Murphy-Avis at Home Care of Springfield, MA, and Danielle for their extraordinary efforts to help Claire spend her last days surrounded by love and family. We are blessed to have been by her side as she went to heaven. Our thoughts are with all those who have not had this comfort. In lieu of flowers, donations in Claire’s memory may be made to Loaves and Fishes Community Kitchen, PO Box 5127, Springfield MA. 01103 www.openpantry.org or Massachusetts Citizens for Life www.masscitizensforlife.org