Festus J. Joyce Obituary (1929 - 2019)

Cumberland Foreside- Festus J. Joyce, 89, of Heritage Lane died peacefully on Friday, July 5, 2019 at Mercy Hospital following a long illness. Festus was born in Portland, Maine on September 11, 1929 the son of the late Festus Joseph and Mary A. (Brown) Joyce. He attended local schools and graduated from Cheverus High School in the class of 1947. He also attended Portland Junior College. On December 26, 1953 he married Beverlene Babcock at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. Festus worked as a warehouseman for Milliken-Tomlinson-Wetterau, food and grocery distributor, for forty-three years, retiring in 1995, he also worked security for the Scotia Prince in Portland where he made many friends. In his spare time, he loved to play golf and got his first hole in one at the age of 16, playing cards with friends, listening to Irish music and was famous for the big Irish Dinner he would prepare on St. Patrick's Day to share with family and friends. His children and grandchildren were his life. He loved spending time with them going to the beach at East End, Pine Point, and Kettle Cove and ending the day making pizza for all the kids. He will long be remembered for his sense of humor. His family described him as a typical hard working Irishman, who loved his family. Festus was predeceased by a son, Stephen Joyce in 2013; a sister, Mary Nugent; and two brothers, Thomas and Joseph Joyce. He is survived by his wife, Beverlene Joyce of Cumberland Foreside; two daughters, Kathleen Joyce of Falmouth, and Jeanne and her husband Samuel W. (Tim) Meyer Jr. of Freeport; a son, Michael and his wife Brenda Joyce of Falmouth; five grandchildren, Meghan Joyce, Melissa Joyce Dea and husband Matthew, Andrea Bento, Kelsey Meyer, and Samuel W. (Willets) Meyer III; one great grandson, Benjamin Siekman, and a second, Baby Dea, on the way; a sister Rita and her husband Charles Sudbay of Portland; godchildren, Kristina Joyce-Smith, and Joseph Sudbay; many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours celebrating Festus life will be celebrated on Monday, July 8, 2019, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland, ME. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home at 9:15am on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 followed by a 10:00am Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland, ME. Burial will be in Eastern Cemetery in Gorham, ME. To view Festus memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com Those who wish may make contributions in Festus memory to: Cheverus High School Scholarship Fund, 267 Ocean Ave, Portland, ME 04103