She was born on Jan. 1, 1954, to Gerard “Ben” and Therese (Soulard) Lemay of Biddeford. She was a 1972 graduate of Biddeford High School.
On April 7, 2004, she married John Colby at sunset on the beach in Saint Maarten. Upon their return, they held a reception with 160 of their family and friends that included a Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band.
For a few years, she worked at the switchboard at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford. She then worked at the University of New England for many years, first as a Telecommunications Coordinator, then as an Administrative Assistant for the MSED program. Her most rewarding job was that of mother to her daughters and Mem/Memere to her granddaughters. She was very spiritual in nature and sought self-improvement through her daily readings of inspirational books. She enjoyed walking, cooking, her many visits to Aruba with John, craft shows, and especially loved decorating for the holidays and making them important memories to her family.
Joyce is survived by: her husband of 13 years, John Colby of Saco; three daughters, Michelle Dion-Bernier and her husband Gary of San Diego, California, Danielle Carter and her husband Jason of Lee, New Hampshire, and Giselle Fortier and her fiancé Anton Anderson of San Diego, California; a son: Zimba Colby, a Yorkshire Terrier of Saco; three granddaughters, Makayla Dion-Bernier, Katanna Dion-Bernier, and Isabelle Carter; two sisters, Lorraine Hutchins and her husband William of Biddeford and Aline Guite and her husband Donald of Jacksonville, Florida; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Visiting hours will be 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, ME 04005. A Funeral Service will be celebrated on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Hope Memorial Chapel. Burial will be at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco.
Donations in Joyce’s name may be made to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, 72 River Park St., Suite 202, Needham, MA 02494.
To share condolences, please visit hopememorial.com.
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