Edith Joyce Tyler

Joyce was born on May 21, 1927 to George and Ivy Harker in Doncaster, England. She is survived by her children, Diana Lynn née Borzek of Wilmington, MA; Nigel Borzek of Dunnellon, FL; and Richard Borzek of Jackson, NJ, and by her step-children, Tommy Tyler of Conroe, TX; Gary Tyler of Rogue River, OR; and Becky Bean née Tyler of San Antonio, TX. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Eric Cobain; Kristina Lach née Borzek; Brian Borzek; Paris and Nicole Bean; and her great granddaughters, Ava and Zoe Borzek. She is predeceased by her husband, Tex Tyler; her daughter, Andrea Cox; and by her sister, Sandra Briggs.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a tree be planted, sponsored or a favorite one chosen that you pass regularly. We suggest this organization for a memorial tree: https://www.alivingtribute.org/

We ask that it be known as “Joy’s Tree.” Trees are sanctuaries and homes. They offer comfort in their shade. Their oxygen fuels and supports our lives. They are steadfast in trying conditions. Your tree will be a symbol of Joy’s resilience and generosity. Our hope is that through the decades, when memory has faded, a lone tree might spark someone to ask “Who is Joy?’ To be answered, “She was a woman as strong and giving as this tree.”

The three stages of Joyce’s life are defined by place: Doncaster, New Jersey, and Texas.

Joyce, as known in England, started life in a modest row house 170-miles north of London. She prevailed against every childhood disease, including diphtheria, to become a good student, and she graduated from secondary school in 1943. She trained in voice to become a respected amateur and learned piano which was her entrée to the many parties she loved.

In her first job as a photography assistant, Joyce captured images of war-displaced people wanting to send proof of their well-being to loved ones back home. For one sitting, three men took turns in front of Joyce’s camera. Their slow turnover was a puzzle until she realized the men had one suit between them, and needed time to swap clothes.

Later, the Doncaster Technical College Laboratory hired Joyce as a chemistry lab assistant. There she volunteered nights for the fire watch during WWII and met her first husband.

Joyce married Edward Cox in 1947 and welcomed a daughter, Andrea, two years later. Despite the challenges of raising a child with learning disabilities, Joyce’s resilience saw her through. After her marriage ended, she supported herself and Andrea by giving piano lessons. When her cousin, Grenville, began his own lessons, she told his Mum (her Aunt Doreen) that he was tone deaf and lessons were a waste of time. Grenville now reflects that “Joyce was probably correct, and I was relieved.”

Joyce met her future husband, Bazyli Borzek, in Liverpool at a social dance. True partners in their values and dedication to each other, they planned a new life in America. And while awaiting immigration quotas to open (7-years for Basil), they went on to have two children: a healthy baby girl, Diana, who restored Joy’s maternal confidence, and Nigel, the blond, blue-eyed boy who would carry the name of the blossoming family.

As Andrea’s special needs increased, Joy was left with no option but to entrust her daughter to care in England overseen by Joyce’s beloved sister, Sandra, and later her niece, Joanne. They saw her thrive in a warm, protective home with roommate friends and 24-hour caretakers.

In March 1958, Joyce spent five days enduring seasickness aboard the French vessel SS Liberte, bringing her family to America. They made their home in Newark, New Jersey.

Joyce’s second son and last child, Richard, was delivered in 1959. Richard was her sunshine child. He arrived in peace time, a time of plenty and a time of hope. She loved him for his lightness and his knack for joy. She once opened her refrigerator to find all the eggs with newly drawn faces. She smiled often at that memory.

As immigrants must, Joyce built a new family from neighbors in NJ who progressed from being friends to becoming loved ones. The Dekelbaum family joined in every holiday, every celebration; and Joyce became Aunt Joy to Julie, Debra, Michele, and Sherrie. The Dekelbaums helped Joy navigate life in America. Mrs. Dani Dekelbaum introduced Joy to the pleasures of cooking and eating Italian food. And Dani and Joy shared a great love of music, delighting in musicals, the Great American Songbook, and the classics. They supported each other in trying times. Joy and Basil gave shelter to the Dekelbaum family during the 1967 riots in Newark, NJ.

By 1962, Joy and Basil had scraped together enough savings to celebrate buying their first home (happily at 5% interest) in Jackson, New Jersey. Joy was proud to host her parents, as well as, other frequent visitors from the UK and Poland. Joy thrived on welcoming guests, many unknown except by way of written introduction.

Joy’s patch of paradise ended October 1976 when her much loved Basil died. She started anew, following her children to Houston, TX. Her favorite job there was sales in the gift shop at the Warwick Hotel (now the Zaza Hotel) where she enjoyed celebrity sightings and an ethos of exceptional standards.

Joy found loving companionship at yet another dance, meeting Tex Tyler. They married in 1982, moving to Navasota, TX for Tex’s work. Parlaying her exceptional customer service skills, Joy secured a job as a counter salesperson for Merle Norman cosmetics.

In 1988, Joy and Tex moved to his family’s property in Houston. She worked at a grocery deli before retiring in 1996, dedicating herself to caring for her husband and to creating an inviting and comfortable home. Joy had many hobbies she loved, including producing ceramics, collecting dolls, watching PBS Great Performances, and reading.

Travel always beckoned Joy. Her favorite trip abroad was to Capri, Italy, an island of rugged white coastline and caves with electric blue water. Stateside Joy loved her time in Denver, Colorado, traveling a narrow-rail train, visiting the Garden of the Gods and seeing the fluttering leaves of Aspen trees.

She lost Tex in 2018. After a difficult adjustment, Joy rallied and began enjoying life as a single woman. She enjoyed outdoor work, raking leaves and tending to plants. Much of this was assisted by her aide, Angie, who became her last great friend. The family will always be grateful to Angie.

Our family is proud of Joy’s life. She was kind, industrious, and thoughtful. She learned to love a cat, Patches. She donated to charities, was a stickler for etiquette and was a fine hostess. She was our mom, and we are forever grateful to her for the start she gave us and her continued support. We miss you, Mom. Rest easy.