Joyce Elaine Stronge

Joyce Elaine Stronge passed away at peace and without pain at Trustbridge Hospice in Boca Raton, Florida on September 21, 2022, after she suffered a serious stroke two weeks earlier. Joyce was born on March 30, 1946, in Brookings, South Dakota to Leslie Eckroat Johnson and Ruth Northey and her birth announcement card proclaimed, "REJOICE! WEE-JOYCE is born this day.". She spent most of her childhood in Ames, Iowa where her father was the Head of the Department of Animal Sciences at Iowa State University. Joyce loved children and earned her master's degree in child development from Iowa State University. Joyce strongly believed in the importance of a charitable heart and her first position was as a teacher in the nursery school at the historic Roadside Settlement House in Des Moines, an organization with a long history of providing free services to the poor.
Joyce married her husband, William Bernard Stronge in 1968 whom she met at Iowa State University where he was pursuing graduate studies in Economics. Bill, a native of Ireland, completed his Ph.D. in economics in 1971 and the young couple decided to move to Boca Raton in 1971 because they couldn't resist the appeal of year-round sunny weather. Bill began a 35 year career as a member of the faculty of economics at Florida Atlantic University, which had been established a few years earlier. True to her nature, Joyce became the director of the nursery school established by Our Lady Queen of Peace parish west of Delray Beach to serve the needs of the children of migrant agricultural farm workers. She stayed with this role until she and Bill welcomed three children in short succession and she stayed home to raise her children, a daughter and two sons. Coincidentally, Joyce's favorite piece of artwork on the Iowa State campus was the "Marriage Ring," a structure that depicts three children sitting on the edge of a circular fountain where the circle represents a wedding ring and the valuable gems of the ring are symbolized by the three children who are the jewels of the marriage, an older sister and her two brothers.
Joyce's gift was her ability to see the world through a child's eyes, she had a great laugh, a sunny disposition, and she was the "neighborhood mom" where every kid in the neighborhood and every friend of her children was not only welcome at her home but made to feel that her home was their home. Joyce's home was the kind of home where the front door was never locked, there were pillow forts in the living room, the pets were cherished members of the family, and children were encouraged to follow their imaginations wherever they led them. Her legacy is the number of "children" who have approached the family
during this time to say Joyce was their second mom. She was a troop leader for both the boy scouts and the girl scouts. She was so proud that both of her sons achieved the honor of becoming Eagle Scouts. As one close family friend said upon hearing of her illness, "Joyce, thank you for being our troop leader and making sure not just your kids, but everyone's kids, get to have an adventure once in a while."
In later years, Joyce and Bill enjoyed international travel, visiting many countries including Ecuador in South America, Germany and Spain in Europe, Dubai, India and South Korea, as well as Bill's family in Canada and Ireland. Joyce and Bill are grateful to God for 54 happy and fulfilling years.
Joyce is survived her husband Bill and their three children Aideen, Patrick and Nathan, and her two grandchildren Jack and William of Seattle, Washington. Her grandsons will miss receiving their monthly box of goodies, sweets, and toys. She is also survived by her brother Keith Johnson and his wife DeAnne of Rhode Island, and her brother-in-law Paddy Stronge, his wife Eleanor and her sister in law Stephanie Stronge of Dublin, Ireland. She was predeceased by her brother Wayne Johnson and her sister-in-law Lynn of Houston, Texas and her brother in law John Stronge of Dublin Ireland. Joyce is lovingly remembered by her many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Trustbridge Hospice for the loving care they showed Joyce and shepherding them through her last days. Donations in Joyce's memory may be made to Trustbridge Hospice, 1531 W Palmetto Park Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33486, OR to Tri County Animal Rescue, 21287 Boca Rio Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33433. Several beloved family pets came from that facility. There will be a Celebration of her Life in early 2023, in order to allow overseas relatives and friends to plan a trip to Florida if they wish to come.