John M. Joyce

SOUTH PORTLAND--After a long, difficult fight against an ever-weakening heart, John Michael Joyce, the last known member of the Back Bay Dump Rangers, 93, of South Portland, passed away on November 26, 2022. John was born in Portland, Maine on June 15, 1929, the youngest of six children of Irish immigrants, Delia Duffy and Michael Joyce. Growing up in a large immigrant family, there were always stories to tell and memories to be made. John attended Cathedral Grammar School and graduated from Cheverus High School in 1947. He was a communicant of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where he was baptized, received his sacraments, he was an altar boy and where on January 27, 1950, he married Faye L. McCormick. Shortly thereafter, they moved to South Portland. John, following in his father's footsteps, worked as a longshoreman throughout his entire adult life. At the same time, he worked for the First National Bakery. When the bakery closed, he went to work for the railroad, as a car knocker. After retiring from the railroad, John worked as a toll collector with Maine State Turnpike Authority. He had an extremely strong work ethic and was still working hard late into his life on all kinds of different projects. John and his wife Faye were the hosts for all of the family holidays and gatherings, whether it be their annual Christmas party or parties by the pool. It was not unusual for their house to host more than 25 people every Sunday. John and Faye loved to travel and dance. They were definitely the life of any party! As a member of the Irish-American club, their favorite trips were to the Irish village in Cape Cod. They were the first couple on any dance floor and the last to sit down. Their trip to Ireland was said to be a trip of a lifetime, meeting cousins and family that they would stay connected to this day. Some of the best times in John and Faye's 64 years of marriage were spent with John's sister Peggy and her husband Mert, their friends Jack and JoAnne Coyne, and Ken and Terry Fox, who we know have been waiting for John up in heaven. John loved all sports. His love for baseball came from his Dad and their trips on the train to Fenway Park to see the Red Sox when he was a small boy. He rarely missed a Cheverus game. John loved to spend his mornings at Becky's restaurant talking about his memories of growing up in Portland with all his friends, especially Frank Kemna. The family would like to thank Frank for his continued friendship and visits up through John's last days. Besides his parents he was predeceased by his loving wife, Faye; his sister Mary and brother-in-law John (Lefty) Griffin; his brother Martin (Beano) Joyce and sister-in-law, Helen (Hayden) Joyce; sister Bridget and brother-in¬ law Peter Malia; sister Margaret and brother-in-law Mert Concannon; and nephew Martin Griffin. John is survived by two daughters Katherine and her husband David Twombly, and Regina Joyce, all of South Portland. A granddaughter Melissa and husband Robert Cunningham of Cumberland; four great- grandchildren,Joseph Norwood, Jake Cunningham, Tucker Norwood, and Katherine Norwood all of Cumberland; his sister Katherine Joyce of Portland; nieces Joyce Malia, Jeannie Malia, and Lisa Gale; and a nephew John Griffin. He is also survived by numerous cousins in Boston and Ireland. John's life was a life well lived. We will continue to celebrate him in all that we do. In memory of John's Irish heritage, we pass this blessing to all who knew him: May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall softly upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. Visiting hours will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursday, December 8th at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home,1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home at 9:15 am on Friday followed by a 10:00 am Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception 307 Congress Street Portland, Maine. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery 1461 Broadway, South Portland.