Raymond P. Joyal

Raymond Peter "Papa" Joyal, a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, educator, and community volunteer, passed away on August 8th, 2025. Beloved husband of Ellen T. (Carmody) Joyal; loving father of David and his wife Debra Joyal, Susan Petrie and her husband Max, and Mary Joyal and her husband Jon Magri; cherished grandfather of Andrew, Zachary, Aidan, Zoey, Charlie, Emmett, Caleb and Paige. Son of the late Raymond J. and Emily (Bacigalupo) Joyal, Ray was the dear brother of Louise (husband John) O'Brien, Alfred (wife Sheila) Joyal, and Marie (husband Hans) Schaechter, and leaves many nieces and nephews. Ray was born and raised in the Neponset section of Dorchester, where he attended Saint Ann's grammar school and Boston Latin, before graduating from North Quincy High School in 1964. He attended Boston State College, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in education, and then began a 30+ year career as a teacher and administrator. Ray taught at the Nathaniel S. Hunting and Atherton Hough elementary schools and Broad Meadows Middle School before serving as assistant principal at the Parker Elementary School and Atlantic Middle School. He served as the principal at North Pembroke Elementary School before finishing his career as principal at the Jacobs School in Hull, or "Disney on the Hill", as the staff referred to it. Outside of school, Ray committed himself to his community and his family. He helped found Marshfield Advocates for the Academically Talented, served on the Marshfield School Committee in the early 1980s, and volunteered as a Scout leader and later Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 101. As president of the Marshfield Friends of Music, he coordinated over ten high school music trips, from Nashville to Disney World and spent countless hours parking cars at the Marshfield Fair to help raise funds for the music department. He received the Massachusetts Music Educators Association's Music Advocacy award in 2004. Somehow, he also found time to help run the Family Life program at St. Christine's Church, and he even coached summer field hockey, though his knowledge of the sport was limited to enthusiastic cheering. Ray didn't slow down once he retired, finding a new love of golf through working at the pro shop for almost twenty years at Green Harbor Golf Course. He loved interacting with everyone that came in the door, from the Monday Ladies League to the Thursday Men's League. He also found a new passion in his work with Sowing Seeds, a nonprofit network of volunteers who offer support and services to Marshfield residents in need. As president, he worked tirelessly to increase awareness and community involvement in the mission of the organization. For his efforts, he was nominated as Marshfield's Citizen of the Year in 2020 and received the Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award in 2021. Despite all his accomplishments, Ray found his greatest joy in spending time with his family – his wife Ellen of 53 years and his children and grandchildren. Everyone was well loved and well fed when visiting Nana and Papa. Ray cooked for an army and welcomed the opportunity to try new recipes on a regular basis. He was best known for his world-famous ravioli and antipasto, which he made from scratch every Christmas. He took inspiration from all the traveling he enjoyed with Ellen, as they ventured from Alaska to the Grand Canyon to Ireland and many trips to Maine. Perhaps Ray's favorite trips, however, were his annual New Hampshire family vacations, when he and Ellen spent a week with their three children and eight grandchildren. Ray took immense pride in his grandchildren's accomplishments and supported them at their concerts, sporting events, and other extracurriculars, while sharing with them his love of Tina Turner. Ray dedicated his entire life to helping others- from his students to his family and his community. He made the world a better place– person by person, day by day. We are all better off for having known him. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, August 13, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., at the MacDonald Funeral Home, 1755 Ocean Street in Marshfield. A service to celebrate Ray's life will be held on Thursday, August 14th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Christine's Catholic Church, 1295 Main Street in Marshfield. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ray's name may be made to Sowing Seeds of Hope, by mail to Sowing Seeds, Ltd, P.O. Box 1001, Marshfield, MA 02050 or online at: https://www.sowingseedsmarshfield.org/ For online guest book, driving directions and other helpful information please visit the website macdonaldfuneralhome.com