Joyce Adelle Hand

Joyce Adelle Hand, a long time resident of Woonsocket, RI passed away on May 21, 2013. Born in Milford, Massachusetts on November 21, 1949, she was the daughter of the late William G. Hand, Sr. and Marjorie P. (Ryan) Hand. Joyce enjoyed gardening with plants, reading, and pencil sketching. Joyce was a simple person who knew how to love. Nothing was more important to her than her family. The last four years of Joyce's life were filled with the joy of spending time with her sister Kathleen's grandchildren, Haley and Mikayla. Whenever Haley and Mikayla were to spend any time at their grandmothers, Joyce would come over and her and Kathleen would do various things, but, often it would be pushing the children to the store in their carriages, buying craft materials and coming back home to work on them. At one point, when Joyce was still in the hospital, her sister Marilyn was invited to the home of Preston and Marcie Gales, the parents of Haley and Mikayla. Marilyn was concerned about leaving Joyce but Joyce said to her, Go, go and experience the greatest joy you'll know and let your heart soak it in. Do not miss out on such a wonder. Joyce of course loved all of her family and that is clearly evident when you entered her home where she surrounded herself with pictures of all her, sisters, brother, nieces and nephews, cousins, etc. She had the capacity to love them all equally. Joyce not only loved children she loved the elderly, sick and disabled. The majority of her life she worked as a CNA in several facilities in RI caring for people. For a school project, Joyce was asked the following question, and in her owns words she answered: If you could do anything in the world, the first three things would be: - Travel: England and Ireland - Buy a large farm house in the country and adopt children - Start my own state of the art facility for the elderly, sick and disabled and implement all my own ideas Her final days were spent in the home of her sister Kathleen. Her sister Marilyn arrived from OH on May 2nd and Kathleen and she, along with the help of her niece Michelle cared for her. During that time, fond memories were made. Many of Joyce's nieces, nephews, cousins and friends came to visit traveling from as far away as Florida, New Hampshire and Connecticut. They filled Joyce's final days with joy and laughter. Joyce got to celebrate Haley's 5th birthday with her. One of the greatest memories we now have is when Joyce's niece came over to Kathleen's home and announced to the family that she is pregnant. Joyce was so elated that she arose from her bed, threw up her hands to God and did a little dance and proceeded out of the room dancing all the way with her walker. At one point, Joyce asked Marilyn to express her love to her family. Joyce said, "I love them more than they'll ever know. Just being around them made me happy and I am proud of each and every one. My prayer is that future generations be protected from our generation's bad ideas and poor judgments." Joyce was kind, caring and selfless, and she was a great example of loving people the way her Lord Jesus loved. Joyce leaves her cherished sisters and brother; Marilyn Parker of Dayton, OH, Kathleen Gales of Woonsocket RI, Gail Mueller of Tuscaloosa, AL, brother Edward Hand of Blackstone RI. She was predeceased by her brothers William, John, David, Patrick and James Hand and sisters Elizabeth Blake, Alice Burbank, and Marjorie Ogunwomoju. Joyce is also survived by her extended family and friends. And her beloved cat "Emma". Joyce was a member of the Christian Family Fellowship Ministry, in Tipp City OH. A service will be held on May 25, 2013. Visitation with the Family is from 2:00 - 3:30 with a service following. Memorial donations may be made to: Bob Ryan, 120 SW 154 St. Newberry FL, 32669 to assist in animal rescue efforts. Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Ave., Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, MA 02760.