Joyce Sears

RICHFORD- Beloved mother, sister, cousin, and friend, Joyce Elaine Sears passed from this life on November 18, 2022, she was 76. Born in Utica, New York on April 30, 1946, to Doris (Warner) Cieri and Michael B. Cieri. In 2017, Joyce was diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia at theyoung age of 70.

A lifelong caregiver, Joyce was an R.N. who worked in Faxton Hospital in Utica, NY, as a

visiting nurse serving rural upstate New York and as an administrator of senior meal sites and community centers in Forestport and Booneville, NY. She graduated from Utica Free Academy, attended Cazenovia College, and later finished her degree in nursing administration at SUNY Utica. While raising a family and working full-time Joyce was also pivotal in running, 'The Corner Restaurant', a family-owned business in Woodgate.

Joyce married Richard F. Sears in 1964 (div. 1990) and together they raised two children; Kristan Sears of Houston, Texas and Stacie (Mark) Fagan of Shelburne. In addition to her children, she leaves behind her brother, Ted Cieri (Barbara) of East Greenbush, NY, beloved cousin, Wayne Ralph (Sue) of Toronto, ON, nephews, Adrian Cieri of Bloomingdale, NY and Bear Cieri of Shelburne, VT, her grandchildren, Quigley and Manfred, and Brooks Ralph of Brooklyn and Steffi Ralph of Ontario.

Up until 2016, Joyce lived for two decades in Merrimack, NH, where she was a nursing home administrator. She was a caregiver in various capacities including as a Guardian Ad Litem and later as massage therapist. As a nursing home administrator, Joyce piloted one of the early memory care units, at that time, a new approach to supporting seniors living with Alzheimer's dementia. A life-long learner, she believed education was essential for self-determination and completed her MBA at Franklin Pierce College at the age of 51.

Although Alzheimer's prevented Joyce from spending her golden years as she hoped, traveling with her dear friend, Bobbi, she was supported in her journey by many caregivers, friends, and community members in Shelburne including Nicole and Laurel. In her last year, Joyce received extraordinary care at St. Joseph's Memory Care in Richford, VT, and from Franklin County Home Health and Hospice.

If you wish to honor Joyce's life, please consider making a gift to Franklin County Home Health and Hospice, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, VT 05478 or The Vermont Women's Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, 3 Court Street, Middlebury, VT 05753 or by caring for someone in your community.

Services will be held at the convenience of the family next year.

Goss Life Celebration Homes is the area's exclusive provider of Life Celebration events. Please visit our website to share condolences, photos and favorite memories at www.gossfs.com