Joyce E. Birchenough

Joyce Ellen Birchenough was born April 9, 1938 to the late Walter and Margaret (Gardner) Lillie in Watertown. Joyce graduated from Black River High School and started her adult life working as a telephone operator in 1955. She married John S. Raso, and they had three daughters. John died in an accident in 1962. She married Patrick A. Birchenough on October 5, 1963 at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Black River with Rev. James A. Fix, Pastor, officiating. She then became a stay at home mother to her children.

After raising her children, Joyce took a job in 1980, as a cafeteria worker at Black River Elementary, touching the lives of not only the students, but the staff until her retirement in 1999, as cafeteria manager.

Joyce loved tending to her large garden, knit and needlepoint. She always remembered to send a card for birthdays, anniversaries and any special occasions to her large extended family.

Beginning in 2000 Joyce and Pat moved to Barnes Corners for six months out of the year, and were snowbirds and wintered in Leesburg, FL for the past 25 years.

Joyce was predeceased by her first husband, John S. Raso; her grandson, Aaron Greene; her in-laws, Ossie and Irma Birchenough; her nephew, Jeff Mathys, her brothers-in-law, Pete White, and Richard and Alan Birchenough.

She is survived by her husband, Pat, her five children, Brenda Raso of Ohio; Deb (Rick) Felice of Adams; and Barb (Charlie) Brennan of Massena; Jon (Erin) Birchenough of Star Lake; and Mike (Missy) Birchenough of Barnes Corners; her grandchildren, Nick and Scott LesChander, Jerod and Danielle Felice, Brad and Chris Greene, Dustin Brennan, Katie and Nick Birchenough, and Hunter Birchenough, and her 16 great grandchildren.

She is also survived by her sisters, Gail (Robert) Mathys of Glenfield; Joanne (Timothy) Perfetto of Missouri, and her brother, David (Kathy) Lillie of Rochester; her sisters-in-law, Caryn Birchenough; Jane (Gary) Dumas; Joyce White; Yvonne (Donald) Burtick; her brothers-in-law, David (Eileen) Birchenough; and Danny (Joanne) Birchenough.

The Birchenough family would like to thank Lewis County Hospice and Jefferson County Hospice for their care and compassion which was deeply appreciated. Joyce’s family would also like to thank, Dr. Kenneth Fish, for his care over the past 30 years.

A spring graveside service will be held in Black River Cemetery followed by a celebration of life.