Joyce M. Benjamin

Born in Providence, the daughter of the late Lloyd and Marion (Casey) Benjamin, she was a lifelong resident of Providence. Joyce was a graduate of Mount Pleasant High School in Providence and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rhode Island College in 1988.

She was a board member of Fellowship Health Resources and enjoyed stamp and coin collecting.

Her family includes one daughter, Shirley Schrader; three sons, Mark Richard Schrader, Andrew Thomas Schrader, and Matthew R.L. Shipp and his wife Cynthia; one grandson, Kevin Matthew Shipp; one brother, Steven Benjamin and his wife Sherry; and her grandmother, Gertrude Casey.

Private arrangements are in the care of Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, MA.

Letter from Matt to His Mom

Moms are loving, caring, and very, very supportive. I did find those qualities in my mom.

It took a very long time to stop being so angry and hurt from my mom’s decisions. My mom showed me as best as she could to try to be a loving, caring person, to try to stop letting the anger consume me, and try to see mom made the decisions she knew how at that time.

My mom was very independent and it showed me from her actions to try not to let people take advantage of you.

My mom was set in her ways, but she did love all her children deep down inside her heart. I do finally understand that by spending these past weeks or so with my mom.

I was adopted by the most wonderful man. He took on a very angry and emotionally beaten child. My mom is so grateful that I found a wonderful home and that I have this wonderful man for my dad.

With all the years I had with my mom, I loved mom with all my heart. Mom loved me too.

Love you mom.

Your son,

Matt