William James Joyce

William “Bill” Joyce, age 91, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2025. He was born on November 6, 1934, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and lived a life defined by devotion to family, a love of learning, and service to others.

Bill was predeceased by his father, James Joyce; his mother, Mary Joyce; and his four siblings, Mary, James, Constance, and Ruth.

A lifelong learner, Bill valued education deeply and pursued it with enthusiasm. He earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, his MBA from Dartmouth College–Tuck School of Business, and his law degree from Fordham Law School. He also attended the University of Freiburg in Switzerland. During his time in school, Bill formed lifelong friendships and delighted in recounting stories from those days throughout his life. His curiosity never waned, he was an avid reader and had a particular passion for learning new languages.

While attending Dartmouth, Bill served in the Army ROTC and continued his military service in the Army Reserves for six years. He retired with the rank of First Lieutenant in 1967, a point of quiet pride for him.

Bill met the love of his life, Diana, in New York while attending law school. Upon graduation from Fordham, he became a member of the New York Bar. In 1970, after enjoying time together filled with travel and shared adventures, they settled down and welcomed twin daughters. In 1976, the family made their home in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, where Bill and Diana lived for 48 years and built a life rooted in family, community, and lasting friendships. During his time in Mountain Lakes, he was an active and devoted member of the Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church.

In 2024, Bill relocated to the Baltimore area to be closer to his grandsons, who were his true pride and joy and brought him immense happiness in his later years.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 62 years, Diana Joyce; his daughter Kirsten Joyce; his daughter Noel (Joyce) Posavec and her husband Tom; his two grandsons, Luka Posavec and Nikolas Posavec; his sister-in-law Donna Middleton; and many cherished nieces and nephews.

Bill will be remembered for his intellect, humility, strong Catholic faith, devotion to family, and steady, thoughtful presence. His legacy lives on through the generations he nurtured and the many lives he touched. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved him.

A visitation will take place at Schimunek Funeral Home, Inc., located at 9705 Belair Rd, Nottingham, MD, 21236, on December 27, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

The memorial mass will be held at St Stephen Catholic Church, 8030 Bradshaw Rd, Kingsville, MD 21087, on December 29, 2025, at 11:00 am. The inurnment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, 8420 Belair Rd, Nottingham, MD, 21236.