Joyce Ann Lund of Leesburg, Fla., passed away peacefully April 5, 2024, at the age of 84 years, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Joyce was born June 28,1939 in Barre, Vt., and grew up in that area.
She graduated from Spaulding High School in 1957, then earned an associate’s degree at Champlain College. Later, she earned further degrees at Eastern Connecticut State University and UConn. She married her high school sweetheart, Richard W. Lund, in 1963, and eventually settled in Preston. In Preston, Joyce and Richard raised three children, Jane, John and Kathleen. There, she was a member of the Preston City Auxiliary Fire Company and served on the Board of CorePlus Credit Union.
A massive garden and small farm kept her very busy tending, harvesting and preserving. In 1981, Joyce became a teacher at Preston City School, then later, at Preston Plains School, where she was able to make a difference in a great many young lives. Teaching “her kids” was a great passion and she spoke of her time with them for the rest of her life. Her other hobbies included knitting, crocheting, sewing, golfing, skiing and traveling.
Joyce and Richard spent their retirement years in Florida, Nevada and California. They traveled for years all over the U.S., including Alaska, in their RV, making friends with people everywhere they went. They loved spending time and traveling with close friends from Preston.
Joyce is survived by her loving husband Richard Lund; and their three children Jane, John and Kathy Lund, all residing in California; three grandchildren, Jacob Barnes, Emily Lund and Samuel Lund of Pacifica, Calif.; as well as her sisters, Barbara (Gonyea) Newton of Randolph, Vt., and Janet Gonyea of Hyde Park, Vt. She will be dearly missed by family and friends and will be remembered for her love of her family, learning and a good debate.