Joyce S. Averill

Joyce was born in Mars Hill, Maine to parents Charles A. and Barbara A. (O'Brien) Stitham. She graduated from St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in Lewiston, Maine in 1942 with an R.N. Degree. During World War II she was one of the first civilian nurses to volunteer to assist the army nurses in reviewing and caring for wounded GIs being flown in to the Army Air Base in Presque Isle, Maine. She moved to Weymouth, Mass. in 1952 where she continued to be active in various fields of nursing for 50 years. Joyce was licensed to practice in Maine, Mass. and Conn. She was a former Weymouth Visiting Nurse.

Predeceased by her first husband, Prof. John W. White, Joyce later married Merle S. Averill. After his death she moved to Forestdale, MA in 1980. She is survived by two sons- John W. White, Jr. of Somerville and Boston University Prof. Charles S. White and his wife Deborah of Rockland; her sister Rita S. Gavin of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY; five grandchildren(Rebecca, Liz, Abby, Alysun and William), one great grandchild(Maddy) and several nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by two brothers; Dr. Linus Stitham and Charles R. Stitham. She also leaves her friend March Dupont and her friend and caregiver Linda LaRocco.

A special thanks to all the staff of Hope Health and The McCarthy Care Center who cared for Joyce with much love, compassion and friendship. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the McCarthy Care Center of E. Sandwich.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Corpus Christi Parish, 324 Quaker Meeting House Rd., E. Sandwich on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 10:30am. Burial will take place privately at a later date in Mars Hill, Maine.