Kay, Joyce Ann (Parker)

Beloved Wife, Mother, and Grandmother

Joyce Ann Kay, recently of Guilford, Connecticut, beloved wife of Donald E. Kay of Guilford,
went to be with the Lord on June 22. Joyce was born on October 10, 1934 in Niagara Falls, New
York, the daughter of Dorothy (Leuppie) and Wilmer Parker. She is survived by Donald E. Kay,
her devoted husband of 53 years; a son, Thomas E. Kay, his wife, Carol and grandsons Trevor
and Robert, of Aurora, Illinois; a son, Michael A. Kay, of Southbury, Connecticut, and
grandsons Alexander, Nathaniel, and Christopher; a daughter, Eileen M. (Kay) Rymph, her
husband, Andrew, granddaughter Caylin and grandson Andrew J., of Greenwich, New York; a
daughter, Donna E. (Kay) Ness, her husband, Erik, and granddaughter Kiersten, of Somers,
Connecticut; a daughter, Susan L. (Kay) Vander Have, her husband, Todd and grandsons
Timothy and Bryan, of Sandy Hook, Connecticut; a son, Matthew W. Kay and his wife, Otilia, of
West Jordan, Utah; a son, Donald B. Kay, of New Milford, Connecticut; and a son, Gregory R.
Kay and his wife, Bernadeth, of Richmond, Virginia. She is also survived by sister-in-law Gina,
the wife of her late brother Richard, nephew Richard and niece Lisa of Tampa, Florida; a
brother, Robert Parker, his wife Patricia of Pittsford, New York and nephews Peter and David;
nephews Patrick, Michael, and Mark Parker originally of Lewiston, New York; sister-in-law
Mildred Kay of West Hartford, Connecticut, wife of late brother-in-law, Robert Kay; and
brother-in-law Richard F. Kay of Englewood, Florida; and many nieces and nephews on her
husband’s side. She was predeceased by her parents, as well as two brothers, Richard and
Donald Parker and Donald’s wife Beverly. Joyce graduated from Saint Mary’s High School,
Niagara Falls, New York in 1953 and from Canisius College (Sisters of Charity Hospital),
Buffalo, New York in 1955. She was a nurse at Saint Francis Hospital in Miami Beach for a
short time and then at Memorial Hospital in Niagara Falls until 1958. Joyce married on June 7,
1958 in Niagara Falls, New York, moved with her husband to West Hartford, Connecticut in
1961, and lived in Newtown, Connecticut from 1968 through 1990 while she raised her eight
children. In 1979, she worked at the state hospital in Newtown, Connecticut. In 1991, Joyce and
Don moved to Spotsylvania, Virginia where she enjoyed her wonderful neighbors in the Laurels.
While there, she became a loving caregiver to Aniela and Diran, children of Vahan and Linda
Chertavian. She also took excellent care of Michael and Elizabeth McCarthy’s children, Daniel,
Elizabeth, and Grace. Joyce was a volunteer for Catholic Charities for five years and worked at
soup kitchens in Fredericksburg. Upon returning to Connecticut in 2000 and until her sickness,
Joyce was a daily communicant at Saint George Roman Catholic Church in Guilford, where she
was a member of a Bible study group, worked at the annual church carnival, volunteered for Lily
Malloy’s “Little Miracles,” and helped to collect goods and raise funds for the unborn and for
needy mothers and children in the New Haven area. She freely gave to many worthwhile
charities and was an unwavering advocate of conservative causes, including pro-life and pro-
family. The family is grateful to hospice care provider, Vitas Healthcare, including Terri,
Tammy, Wes, Michelle, Cindy, and Dana and numerous other caregivers; Father Thomas Lynch
of Saint James Roman Catholic Church; Father Lawrence Symolon of Holy Angels Church;
Father Christopher Ford of Saint Mary’s; Father James Shanley of Saint George; Father Ignacio
Ortigas of Saint Rose of Lima; Father Thomas Confer; all her friends in Fredericksburg,
Virginia; all the ladies of Saint George; her friends Therese Culliton, Bernie Johnson, Dottie
Rutolo, Lily Malloy, Lucille Festa, Millie Parisi, Paul and Cindy Pollock, John and Helen
Conroy, Bob and Noni Bruckner, Tim and Sue Flood, Jim LaBanca, Joe McCarthy, Richie
Graziano, and the Haig family; the Knights of Columbus; the ROMEO’s from Wampanoag; and
all who loved and cared for Joyce before and during her illness. Joyce will be greatly missed
but never forgotten. Friends and family may call at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street,
Newtown, from 5 to 8 PM Friday, June 24. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St.
Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church at 9:30 AM Saturday, June 25. In lieu of flowers,
memorial donations may be made to Lily Malloy for “Little Miracles” c/o Saint Margaret's
Church, 39 Academy Street, Madison, Connecticut 06443, phone 203-245-4829, or to
Connecticut Right to Life Corporation, 54 Long Meadow Drive, Wolcott, Connecticut 06716,
phone 203-879-7292.

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