Joyce Eleanor Riley

On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, God dispatched an Angel from Heaven with the following instructions: "Bring my good and faithful Soldier home. She has gained her Heavenly Wings, she has suffered enough and she is tired." JOYCE ELEANOR RILEY was born on January 11, 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the late Robert Wood and the late Queenie De Loach. She was raised by the late Ned Riley and the late Mary Lee Riley - Busby. They raised her in Barnwell, South Carolina. Joyce enjoyed farm life in Barnwell and her fondest memories were caring for the animals especially her cat. Additionally, Joyce enjoyed her early school life because she felt the teachers cared about her getting the best possible education and that they sincerely wanted her to succeed. During her middle school years, at the age of 13, Joyce came to Philadelphia to live with family. In 1960, Joyce was a proud graduate of John Bartram High School. She was an excellent student, proven by the fact that she was the only African American student to be accepted into the National Honor Society, and graduated 13th out of more than 1,000 students. Following graduation from high school, Joyce continued her educational pursuits at Temple University graduating in 1984 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business. Joyce started her work career at the City of Philadelphia's Department of Recreation. Subsequently, she went to work for the District of Attorney's Office as an administrative assistant under then District Attorney Edward Rendell. Her final assignment was in the District Attorneys Private Criminal Complaint Unit. Joyce's Christian life journey began at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church of South Philadelphia. In 1985, she joined St. Malachy's Church where she was a devoted and dedicated member. She had deep faith and love for God. She cherished church fellowship and outings and found comfort in the teachings of the Church. Her relationships with her church family members and friends were a source of solace and peace. Joyce's greatest love was being a mother and grandmother. She had two sons, Robert and Jeffrey. She was a good mother and she loved her children and grandchildren very much. She would do anything for them and she cherished her relationship with them. Aside from her commitment as a loving mother and grandmother, Joyce enjoyed sewing, gardening, traveling and watching television game shows. Further, Joyce was an excellent artist and was adept at drawing caricatures. The one characteristic that Joyce exhibited that most people did not know about was her generosity and benevolence. Joyce did not want to publicize this but she was a secret source of help for many family members and friends.
She leaves to cherish loving memories: Children; Robert (Sophia); Jeffrey (Amy); eleven grandchildren: two sisters: Germaine Wood and Robin Wood; nieces,nephews, and a host of cousins,family, friends and neighbors.Precedingher death: Her parents, Queenie De Loach, and Robert Wood,and her grandparents: Mary Lee Riley-Busby and Ned Riley.
To send a flower arrangement in memory of
Joyce Eleanor Riley, please click here to visit our sympathy store.