Kerry Festus Joyce
December 28, 1970 ~ August 15, 2022
Resided in:
Portland, Maine
Portland - Kerry Festus Joyce, born December 28, 1970, passed away on August 15, 2022 at his family home in Portland surrounded by his five siblings. He was the youngest of six children born to Thomas M. Joyce and Jacqueline L. (Dodge) Joyce. Kerry grew up on Rosemont Avenue and attended Portland schools. He had his first medical setback, a brain tumor, at the age of fifteen, which he overcame to graduate from Deering High School in 1989. He then attended SMVTI, earning a degree in Culinary Arts. Kerry then put his degree to work in the food industry at Full Belly Deli, Foodees, Friendly’s, and Seventy-Five State Street, until further health issues prevented him from continuing on that path. However, he could still be seen in his own kitchen, creating his masterpieces, which always included chocolate.
Despite his lifelong challenges, Kerry lived life to the fullest. He was the first to make anyone laugh, and had the most infectious smirk, twinkle in his eye, and sense of humor. Like his dad, Kerry had the gift of gab and once anyone met him, they never forgot him! He loved collecting baseball cards, participating in card shows and attending wrestling matches with his friends. Kerry was a regular fixture at Scarborough Downs. There was no bigger fan of the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics, and Patriots. His love of sports was influenced by his two older brothers. His own participation in sports began in Little League, where he made lifelong friends.
Kerry enjoyed being around his family and friends. His niece and nephews looked up to him, admiring his strength, perseverance, and humorous life lessons. His fondest memories in life included his time with friends at DHS Class of ’89 reunions.
Kerry was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by sister, Karen A. Joyce of Portland, brother Kevin Joyce and wife Patti of Standish, sister Kristina (Joyce) Smith and husband Ben of Portland, sister Kendra (Joyce) Grover and husband Bill of Westbrook, brother Ken Joyce and wife Janet of Portland. He is also survived by his nephews, Kyle Joyce and wife Emma of Gorham, Brendon Joyce and wife Johna of Gorham, Hunter Grover of Westbrook, Tommy Joyce of Portland, and niece Jill Joyce of Portland, and two aunts, an uncle, and many cousins on the Joyce side of the family.
The family wishes to thank the many providers who have cared for Kerry throughout the past thirty-six years, which includes Dr. William D’Angelo, Dr. Bennett Stein, and Dr. Sarah Dodwell, his in-home caregivers, and the team from Beacon Hospice that provided support during his final days.
Visiting hours celebrating Kerry’s life will be held from 4-7pm on Wednesday, August 24, at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited at the chapel at 10:15am on Thursday, August 25, followed by an 11am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue, Portland. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. To view the livestream of the Mass, please go to https://ladyofhopemaine.org/ and scroll down to the Live Video section.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the Deering High School Class of 1989 in care of Fran Aceto, 54 Hillis Street, Portland, Maine 04103.
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My heart goes out Kerry’s family. I feel incredibly blessed to have met him & them in the last month of his life. His infectious smile and sense of humor was unmatched. Sending love to everyone in the Joyce family!
My condolences to the Joyce family. God bless
Ken, Kevin and Sisters,
So sorry for loss. Kerry was such a great guy.
Bruce Campbell
It is with our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to hear about the passing of Kerry. As a longtime neighbor and friend of the Joyce family on Rosemont Avenue, I attended local schools, played sports and celebrated many life events with the Joyce Family!
Kerry was a great and loving person who enjoyed being around family and friends.
I fondly remember Kerry as full of life—his great sense of humor and uncanny memory! Kerry enjoyed sports, collecting baseball cards, joking and laughing—he had a great, infectious smile and recognizable laugh. We will dearly miss Kerry—an outstanding person who always gave more to others.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Joyce Family during this difficult time. We know Kerry is in Heaven watching over all the families of Rosemont and myriad friends who had the pleasure to know and love Kerry in life’s journey. May Kerry rest in eternal love and peace!
With Sympathy and Love in Christ,
Bud A. Jones, Jr & Family
Kerry is one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met. He always made me feel special and important. My thoughts are with his family. ❤️
Kerry was a sweetheart with a smile that could melt hearts. He also had a wonderful sense of humor. I will always remember him teasing Kyle about Kyle’s long hair—making his fingers look like scissors and saying, “Snip, snip!”
Kerry,
Thank you for an amazing friendship! Fly high my pal!
Love you always!
Condolences to the entire Joyce family!
Love
Fran Aceto
Kevin, My condolences to you and your family.
So sorry for your loss. Mary and I are keeping the family in our thoughts and prayers.
George Shabo
Kerry was a super young man who overcame many obstacles to graduate from high school and college. If he became your friend, you were one for life. Kerry would tell me stories when I met him in the hall at DHS. HE ALWAYS MADE ME LAUGH. His classmates loved and respected him. I will always remember him. RIP Kerry.
We are so sorry to hear of Kerry’s passing. We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers..
Ed Flaherty and family
Sending hugs to you all for your loss!
My deepest sympathies to the Joyce family. Kerry was a true inspiration.
I will never forget how kind & funny Kerry was in high school. He was a great guy who befriended everyone & always had a smile.
RIP Kerry
Kerry remains in our hearts as the most courageous, fun-loving, big-hearted soul we were blessed to have as a brother, relative, or friend.
My neighborhood friend, who I met before we started school, through Fran Aceto.
Kerry loved baseball. He had a huge card collection and he would always keep a wiffle ball and bat in the trunk of his car. If there were five minutes or more to wait at any family function, out came that ball and bat and we’d play. Often longer than we had to wait in the first place. I still have a ball and bat in the trunk of my car to this day.
Kerry taught me so much growing up. He collected each and every major league team’s plastic helmets from the Funtown speed pitch. The guys who ran it knew him by name and reputation. The rules were that you could throw three pitches and you had to guess the velocity of the third pitch. Well Kerry figured out that everyone always tried to throw the ball as fast as they could and that was what made it difficult to guess. Kerry would lob the ball in and nine times out of ten he could guess the velocity. He totally duped the system.
We played classic video games like Smash Tv and Gorgar Pinball.
He liked Alabama slammers.
He sometimes transformed into his alter ego: Bobby.
Bobby, like Kerry, was a large man (with a large heart) who needed (and gave) large lovin’.
-Kyle
Kerry made the world a better place with his light and humor. We are all better for have knowing him. May he rest peacefully and pain free and forever in our hearts. DHS ‘89
Such a beautiful soul. I was lucky to have met him and enjoyed his humor. God Bless him, his family and loved ones.
Always a friendly smile and a laugh! He really loved life despite his many challenges! He was truly special and one of a kind, may his beautiful soul rest easy! My deepest sympathy to the Joyce family may you find peace at this difficult time!
My deepest sympathy to the Joyce family at this difficult time. Kerry was one of a kind and truly had a heart of gold!! He was always upbeat and friendly and had an infectious laugh and smile! Despite all is many challenges he managed to just love life!! May his beautiful soul rest easy♡♡♡
The Montrose family feels the loss of our dear longtime Rosemont family friend , Kerry Joyce – the youngest of the Joyce family but he packed a lifetime time of living in his years here with his wonderful sisters and brothers , and we were so blessed to share so many good times and fun gatherings with him, and with them. Kerry was the life of every party – ever the story teller – ever the prankster – even as a young child and he never outgrew the need to play jokes on us! He loved the horse races ( like my father 😄) , he adored sitting on the front porch with my mother sharing a whoppie pie and some neighborhood news , and he tolerated dancing with most of us at every celebration even though it meant never taking a break from the music and letting us lead ( he was too polite to correct us ). We watched him from the time he was the “ baby brother “ all through the years , persevering , conquering every challenge thrown at him , never defeated , and always putting his family first , he was truly the “ All Star “” and we , his fans . We will miss him, and know that God will grant him eternal rest and peace in heaven . Our love and prayers – The Polito Family
So sorry for your loss. May be rest in peace.
I have really enjoyed reading all the nice comments about our dear friend Kerry. I agree, Kerry was very funny, courageous, and inspirational to all of us! I will miss him dearly. I want to thank Karen and the rest of the Joyce family for all the years you took care of Kerry during his challenges, and, most importantly, for being there during his accomplishments and achievements.
I knew Kerry his whole life, and the memories that we shared on Rosemont Avenue I will cherish forever. So, I’m going to keep this real because that’s what Kerry would have wanted me to do. Simply put, me and Kerry were hell raisers. Whether we were ringing doorbells and running away, making prank phone calls, setting off illegal fireworks or throwing snowballs at moving cars, we were constantly causing trouble in our neighborhood and Kerry was often the mastermind of all of it!
As the years passed, me and Kerry remained good friends as we were both avid collectors of baseball cards. Even though I moved out of state, I would often come back home for the holidays and visit Kerry. We would catch up with each other and even go to baseball card shows. Kerry would let me know when any new baseball card sets were released or when there was a baseball card dealer who didn’t know how to price his card collection. In typical Kerry fashion, he always knew how to get a great deal or an edge, just like his nephew mentioned in his post about the pitching game and the mini MLB plastic helmet prizes at Funtown.
And guess who caught the garter at my wedding? Yup, it was Kerry, who then proceeded with great enthusiasm to entertain our guests!
Yes, Kerry was a one-of-a kind friend of mine!
Kerry, you will always have a special place in my heart. Good luck in heaven my friend. I’m sure God will forgive us for all our childhood hell raising!
My thoughts and prayers are with Kerry’s family. He was a kind and gentle soul.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family on this heartbreaking loss.
You always know how to make people around you laugh, RIP my friend and classmate
My sincere sympathy on Kerry’s passing.
The Joyce family were so devoted to their
dear Kerry. In faith, we believe he is with
his parents and other family and friends.
What a great reunion he’ll have! He’ll always be close in heart to each of you.🙏
Sr. Maureen
We will miss Kerry greatly, but he will never be forgotten. I have known Kerry since day and would enjoy running into him on Ludlow Street on one of his walks. He would fill me in on all the old neighborhood gossip.
I am thankful to call Kerry one of my best friends since early childhood. I will cherish and never forget our many great memories we shared together over the years. Kerry was the strongest, humorous and most selfless person I know. Your courage and strength will never be forgotten. You will be missed dearly! A big thank you to the Joyce family for caring for Kerry over the last 35 plus years. He was truly blessed to have such a wonderful family by his side! RIP and keep an eye on all of us buddy.
Love
Steve G