Joyce Elaine Isis
Born in central Wisconsin in 1926 to Robert and Isla Hunter, the second of nine children, and grew up on a dairy farm where everyone worked hard and worked together. In early 1944, Joyce traveled to Washington, DC, to take a civilian job in the Navy Department in support of the war effort, joining her sister. Joyce fell in love with Washington and remained a lifelong fan of its beautiful public buildings and parks, temperate weather, cherry blossoms and politics. In 1945, she moved to Miami, FL where she eventually met her future husband, David S. Isis. They married in 1948 and returned to Washington. In 1957, they bought a new house in the Rosemary Hills neighborhood of Silver Spring where Joyce lived for 61 years and raised 3 daughters. The couple divorced in 1968, and Joyce reentered the workforce, remaining until her 2001 retirement from SunTrust Bank. What she enjoyed most in her banking career was meeting new people and helping them with their life journeys.Joyce loved nature, poetry and being outdoors. Spending endless hours gardening and walking her dog were her favorite hobbies, and she came to know many neighbors and children at the nearby playground. She was an excellent cook, baker, and seamstress, with a green thumb, who loved animals and family.She died peacefully on January 11, 2021, from pulmonary failure, with her daughter Melanie at her side and many loving caregivers. She is survived by her sisters Yvonne, Janice, Rita, and Darlene, her brother Robert, her daughters Melanie Isis (Les Bodian) and Nancy (Dawn) Isis, her grandchildren Anna, Naomi, Spencer, and Natalie, and her great grand twins Arthur and Isadora. Joyce was pre-deceased by her daughter Beverly Isis.No funeral will be held per Joyce's wishes. Friends and loved ones may post memories of Joyce at http://rappfuneral.com/tribute and Legacy.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Best Friends Animal Society, PETA, or the International Refugee Committee.

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Published by The Washington Post from Jan. 19 to Jan. 21, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for JOYCE ISIS

17 Entries

Hunter family

Planted Trees

Rita Hunter

March 25, 2021

I will miss Joyce very much. She always presented a warm and caring persona, taking time to listen and offering a spark of humor on many occasions.
Her memory of events and people was outstanding. So colorful, funny and observing distinct personalities I never knew.
She managed to raise three very 'individual' children and supported them in everything they choose to do.
I wish her family well and know they will have happy warm memories of her.

Darlene Hunter

February 21, 2021

Joyce could tell many stories of her early life in Washington, DC. She talked about the beauty of the city when she first arrived from snowy Wisconsin to a warm and flower covered city, especially the cherry blossoms. Like being in paradise.
She would talk about the difficulty finding a "room" to live in as apartments were not plentiful. Meals were eaten in a cafeteria and "food not allowed in the "room". Perhaps that is why she was always so thin.
The office was in a hot stuffy metal building on the Mall. At lunch time many of the female employees would remove their "precious nylon stockings" and cool their feet in the Reflection Pool by the Lincoln Memorial.
She also helped out with the USO, showing the sailors and marines the sites around Washington and going to USO dances.
All part of history.
The Hunter family will truly miss her.

With another very special dog, Nellie (Corgi)

Nancy Isis

February 6, 2021

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Dressed for work in the 80's

Nancy D

February 6, 2021

Amid the spring bloom in her back yard - 2011

Nancy Isis

February 6, 2021

Joyce with her beloved yellow lab mix, Lady - early 90's?

N. Isis

February 6, 2021

On her front porch with Poppi the puppy - c. 2016?

Nancy Isis

February 6, 2021

Nov. 2020 - enjoying her new home at Kensington Park assisted living.

N. Isis

February 6, 2021

June 2018 - with grand-daughters Naomi & Anna Isis-Brown; Joyce new to assisted living

Nancy D

February 6, 2021

Phil Isis

February 4, 2021

My Aunt Joyce sent a lifetime beam of Love into my heart ....I know this because it lasted a Lifetime...She will live on in my thoughts

Nancy Dawn Isis

February 1, 2021

Beauty was very important to her, thus her great efforts to create a beautiful garden, as well as a lovely home. She found her favorite color palate in garden colors - blue, green, yellow & pink - & decorated her house in those colors. It was an attractive, clean, & tranquil environment.

Nancy Dawn Isis

February 1, 2021

Knowing my mom's love of gardening, a friend who recently lost her father thoughtfully passed on these words: "I hope that as you think over all the years a great many good and wonderful memories will come to mind. Treat them like you tend a plant that needs a good watering and trimming."

I hope to post many things here. For now I'll say that my mom's eyes were delphinium blue, and that was perhaps her best color to wear.

And her favorite color was yellow, which, however, when it comes to choosing a paint color, is notoriouly difficult to match to one's idea of what is wanted.

She always tried to be cheerful around others, & she was gentle, tender, & brave. She reflexively sided with the underdog...she had great empathy for the unfortunate.

Guada Respicio Duque

January 30, 2021

Dear Melanie and family:
I'm sorry to hear of your mom's passing, at a time when it is hard to gather. Your mom was very special and it was always an honor and a privilege to be involved in her care. It is of comfort knowing she is no longer suffering. May her soul rest in peace. Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time. Sending you virtual hugs, Guada Respicio Duque

Shannon Lewis

January 22, 2021

Joyce was a wonderful friend and a lovely person. I will miss walking our dogs together and her company. I will walk by her garden full of flowering trees and buzzing with life and think of her. She was someone I admired and respected for her kind heart and strength and intelligence . She will be missed. Shannon Lewis

Karen Remus

January 19, 2021

Mel and Dawn, I was so sorry to hear of Aunt Joyce's passing. She and Dave passed away less than 4 months apart, unbelievable.. I will always have such fond memories of our summer months together in WI as kids. I cherish the memories I have of my 6 weeks spent with you all and BEV, (gosh, I miss her) in D.C. the summer of 1971. Your mom and you guys were always so kind. Sounds so long ago. What a great time we had exploring DC, Georgetown, Baltimore, etc...monuments, museums, theaters, the statues, folkfest, capital the ocean at Virginia Beach, ...
Sending my love and condolences to you. I know what you are going through. Karen Remus and family

Patricia Isis

January 19, 2021

Aunt Joyce was a loving woman full of grace and kindness. She was a great lover of nature and maintained an expansive lush colorful garden in both her back and front yards. Additionally, I was fortunate to be apart of many of her delicious meals and baked goodies as well as playing with her adorable dogs. I have many sweet memories of her which I will always treasure.

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