Joyce B. Twichell

TWICHELL - Joyce B. (nee DePerno) November 7, 2017, of East Aurora, NY. Beloved wife of 40 years to Archie W., dear mother of Shari (Kevin) Annas, Pamela Martin, Jeffrey (Maryna), Peter (Monika), John Twichell, Ph.D., and the late Mark D. Collier; sister of Joanne (late Arthur) McDonald; Grandmother

of Jennifer, Theodore Annas, Tyler N., Alexandria R., and Nicole A. Twichell; great-grandmother of Hayley Reese; aunt of Kimberly (Michael) Mawk, Jeffrey (Carla) Davidson, Matthew (Katherine) McDonald; survived by 13 great-nieces and nephews. Friends may call Sunday from 3-7 PM, at the WOOD FUNERAL HOME, 784 Main St., East Aurora. Friends are invited to attend a Mass Of Christian Burial from Immaculate Conception RC Church, East Aurora, Monday at 9:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to, Paul J. E. Burkard, Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity, 780 Ridge Rd., Lackawanna, NY 14218. www.woodfh.com

The Eulogy of Joyce Betty Twichell

When planning this beautiful celebration of Joyce's life, I remarked to my dad, Archie, "you know,

Joyce is an East Aurora Girl” … -and she was. Born here, schooled right here at Immaculate

Conception Church, graduated from East Aurora High School, worked at Moog Inc., lived on 345

Prospect Ave., and raising her family, Mark & Shari right here in East Aurora. I remember the day I met our beloved Joyce for the first time. My friends and I went roller skating at the roller rink in Depew and Dad & Joyce picked us up on a Saturday evening. I remember my personal remark to myself of how pretty, softly spoken, and kind.

Joyce met Archie while working at Moog Inc. the company that they both dedicated their working lives to and they both loved Moog for its culture and its people. Joyce & Archie both retired from Moog what seems not so long ago. We all certainly wish that Joyce was going to be spending more time here with Archie and the rest of us, enjoying her retirement years; however, that wasn’t God’s plan.

Back to our story. Archie & Joyce quickly fell in love and married in 1977. And so, this lovely and wonderful woman, Joyce, came into our lives along with her son Mark, daughter Shari, and the rest of her extended family. Almost overnight our family grew into becoming a new and much larger one based on acceptance, laughter, love, and mutual respect. Joyce was the calm and steady influence on our new family, and through it all, she continued on in this role without ever wavering once. In fact, Joyce was the family member who knew - what is – and what is not – important in life. For Joyce, Sunday dinners were important; for Joyce, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas were important; for Joyce, birthdays were important; for Joyce, weddings were important; for Joyce, baptisms and first communions were important; for Joyce, taking road trips and vacations to many different places with Archie was important. All of these moments were important to Joyce because they involved our family getting together to share in life.

When, 26 years ago, we lost Mark, no one could have blamed or judged Joyce if her outlook on life and her efforts toward our family changed thereafter, but they didn’t. In fact, Joyce, in spite

realized we needed so much in our lives. As a person, Joyce had so many great qualities. Among

them, beauty, empathy, the ability to forgive, generosity of spirit, and kindness.

As our family grew over the years, Joyce was the same caring and loving wife, mother, friend, and soft touch each of us cherished. Easy to love and acceptance regardless the situation. Joyce retired several years ago and enjoyed her mornings with the cats, coffee and conversation, Netflix movies with Papa Bear, watching the Buffalo Bills, walks in the neighborhood, Friday fish fries, and the occasional road trip or vacation. Joyce loved live music like the Boneshakers and we would surely find her on the dance floor. The American Legion Post and Elma Conservation Club, Wallenwiens, and other local venues were her favorites. Joyce loved her Eggplant Parmesan, Rueben, chicken & avocado sandwich, Red Cat wine, black coffee, and something light & refreshing. Her specialty in the kitchen was Italian – making sauce & meatballs or lasagna but she also prepared delicious Thanksgiving Dinners – topping it off with her famous Coconut Cream Pie. I guess you could say, “we love to eat”.

With Joyce’s passing, we are reminded of the many ways she touched each and every one of our lives through her qualities as a sister, as a wife, as a mother, as an aunt, as a grandmother, and as a person. And now, as we are faced with having to learn to live life without Joyce here. We remember her steady influence on our family and her sensibility about what is – and is not – important, and we must keep her spirit alive among us, in that same way. Finally, as a family, we must recognize that it was Joyce who helped to keep us together through good times and bad, these past 40 years. Joyce, may your love and understanding of life live on within us forever more.

• Born: May 6th, 1939

• Died: November 7th, 2017