Joyce A. D'Acquisto

Joyce was born on August 10, 1943, the second child in an eventual family of eight children. Though she had an adverse childhood, she remained dutiful and faithful to her parents. As Joyce grew and continued her education, she spent time with the Sisters of the House of the Good Shepherd. There, she realized a passion for singing and grew in her faith in the Lord. Joyce was given the opportunity to perform a series of solo songs for an audience that included Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

As Joyce was completing her basic education, she was given an aptitude IQ test, where she scored over 120 points. She was gifted with acute intellect and a sharp mind. Life, however, held another calling for her rather than further academia. She had quietly been nurturing a yearning for independence and personal freedom, so she ventured out into the world alone.

Joyce began working a full-time position daily and rotated between two part-time positions in the evenings. It was at one of her part-time positions that she would eventually meet and marry the love of her life, Thomas D’Acquisto Sr., whom she married on August 27, 1966. Together, they created a family of their own, bringing a son, Thomas, and a daughter, Tammy, into the world.

Together, they raised their children in a loving, nurturing, and faith-based environment. Both worked tirelessly to provide a good home—Joyce working days and Tom working nights—all while successfully maintaining a healthy setting. We were educated by the private catholic school system. We were raised to cherish a deep faith in God, to be kind and generous, compassionate and caring, and taught them life lessons of principled morality.

Through hard work and sacrifice, Joyce and Tom purchased their one and only home in the late 1980s. I had never seen my parents so happy to have achieved so much for their family. Tragedy struck a few short years after our home was bought. Joyce’s husband, Tom, passed away in 1991. She was now left widowed, with a new home and mortgage, and was in the process of adopting her grandson. Joyce persevered and worked tirelessly and diligently by managing finances, running a home, raising a newly adopted grandson, and keeping her family safe and together for the next 35 years, until her passing in 2026.

This was her life: one filled with great sadness and yet immeasurable joy. She was a moral compass, a foundation of strength and determination, the expression of a profound faith in God, a mentor, a loving wife who remained faithful and never remarried, and a mother of unconditional love—this was Joyce. She will be dearly missed.

Joyce enjoyed arts and crafts, gardening, cooking, floral arranging, music, traveling, nature, and animals.

Joyce was the mother of Thomas D’Acquisto Jr. and Tammy Horn; grandmother to Anthony D’Acquisto, Ashley Horn, Justin Horn, and Taylor Horn; and a fond aunt to many nieces and nephews.

She was a sister to Chester Riske, Linda Riske, Diana Riske, Maxine (David) Litewski, and Debra Riske.

She was a sister-in-law to Barbara D’Acquisto; Rosemary D’Acquisto; Paul and Josephine “Dolly” (née D’Acquisto) Paoletti; Salvatore and Delores D’Acquisto; and Stanley and Martha (née Cutrera) Domain.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas D’Acquisto Sr.; her parents, Theresa (née Cebula) and Chester Riske; sisters, Caroline Riske and Rosemary L. Drumsta; brother-in-law, Louis D’Acquisto Jr.; and sister-in-law, Lydia Riske.