Joyce Barton Carpenter

Cranston, RI - Joyce Barton Carpenter, 92, formerly of Meshanticut Valley Parkway, died Sunday, August 17, 2025, at Saint Elizabeth GREEN HOUSE® Homes in East Greenwich.

For nearly 62 years she was the beloved wife of the late H. William Carpenter. Joyce was the mother of Karen L. Monteiro (husband Mark), Craig W. Carpenter (wife Susie) and the late Todd B. Carpenter. Sister of Jean B. Cooke. "Grammy" of four grandchildren: Kelsey N. Casey (husband Brandon), Lauren V. Richards (husband Kyle), Kyle A. Carpenter (wife Jackie) & Alexander J. Grover (fiancé Tim) and four great grandchildren: Avery, Lucas, Hudson and Patrick. She was the beloved aunt of five nieces and three nephews.

Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Doris E. (Bainton) and Alfred C. "Ted" Barton Jr., she graduated from Cranston High School, Class of 1950. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island in 1954, she worked as a dietician at the Henry Barnard School. While attending URI, she became a sister of Chi Omega, the world's largest woman's fraternity, where she made lifelong friends. After raising her family, she worked for 30 years alongside her husband, Bill, as a hostess during calling hours and funeral services at Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Homes in Providence and West Warwick.

As a young woman she enjoyed many family ski trips to Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, NH. In the summer months, Joyce would be seen on the waters of East Greenwich Cove and Narragansett Bay leisurely sailing or racing in her Beetle Cat sailboat (a small 12-foot gaff rigged wooden sailboat). Her love for the outdoors continued later in life on the golf course, especially as a member of Warwick Country Club where she played in the Women's Golf League, and on courses in Mount Washington Valley, NH where she and her husband would enjoy a leisurely round of 9-holes and lunch.

Living in Cranston for 80 years, she devoted many years of service to the community in leadership positions for the Cranston Junior Women's Club, the Cranston General Hospital Osteopathic Ladies Auxiliary, the Cranston Historical Society and as a member of her high school class Reunion Committee which celebrated their 60th Reunion at the Park Theatre in 2014.

Baptized into the Episcopal Church, she sang in the choir at All Saints Memorial Church in Providence where she and Bill were married on June 8, 1957. A few years later, she became a member of People's Baptist Church, Cranston where during the next 35 years she would serve as a member of the Diaconate, the Women's Society and as Superintendent of the Sunday School. Since 1997 she has been a member of Phillips Memorial Baptist Church, Cranston, where she served on the Diaconate, and provided leadership to the Church's annual May breakfast and Christmas Bazaar.

Joyce had a true gift of hospitality. Whether it was organizing community events, hosting dinner parties for friends or holiday dinners for family, Joyce was always in the kitchen cooking and baking. Summer parties often included boiled lobsters and homemade clam chowder. The menu at the holidays always included a new recipe for homemade soup, grasshopper pie and applesauce. Her children and grandchildren, and many of their friends, always hoped to enjoy some of Joyce's homemade chocolate chip cookies, often rumored to be the best someone had ever tasted.

Since 1995, when her husband "retired", Joyce and Bill enjoyed traveling all over the world with their beloved friends Phyllis & Tad Riley. Besides souvenirs for their children and hundreds of pictures, one thing they always came home with was the chosen destination for their next trip. After Bill's "retirement", they would spend extended time in the White Mountains of New Hampshire at their home, "The Carpenter's Hideaway", in Bartlett, NH.

Joyce's life exemplified the virtues of "The Proverbs 31 Woman" which is presented in the Bible as a woman characterized by hard work, wisdom, strength, and a deep fear of the Lord. She is not merely a stay-at-home wife, but a capable and productive individual who manages her household well, provides for her family, and engages in business and community outreach.

Her funeral service will be held at Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home & Crematory, 659 East Greenwich Avenue, West Warwick, on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 10:00 AM. Her life will be celebrated during calling hours at the funeral home on Sunday, August 24, 2025, from 2:00 - 5:00 PM. Burial will be in Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery, North Kingstown.

In appreciation for the loving and compassionate care Joyce received as a resident of Saint Elizabeth GREEN HOUSE® Home 17, donations in her memory made to Saint Elizabeth Community, 2364 Post Road, Suite 100, Warwick, RI 02886 would be greatly appreciated. Condolences may also be offered to her family and fond memories of Joyce shared online at www.carpenterjenks.com.