Joyce Dale DeLand

It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Joyce Arnold DeLand who passed away at her home in Covington, LA Sunday, November 9, 2025. Age 89. Loving mother to Cheri Carey Ripoll (Jim), Cheril Carey and Harold DeLand (Teresa). Stepmother to Suzanne Gamble (Scotty) and Douglas DeLand. Grandmother to Desiree Bergenthal (Nicky), Candace Sherwood (Daniel), Stephie King, Alexis Carey (Logan), Alissia and Cassandra DeLand, and Jonathan Winkler. Great Grandmother to Camryn, Ariana, Tristyn, Annalei, Cole, Amelia, Liam and Rylee.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents: Joycelyn Garrison and Owen Dale Arnold; husband Harold DeLand; brothers Scott Arnold, Bruce and Jay Folse; grandson Corey Gratia; and stepson Dennis DeLand.

A woman whose life was a testament to quiet strength, unconditional love, and boundless generosity, Joyce will be dearly missed. She departed this life leaving behind a legacy as enduring and profound as the Louisiana swamps where her story began.

Born from humble beginnings near Clio and living in other small communities of LA, Joyce's resilience and strong will were forged in the natural world. She learned early the rhythms of the land, fishing and crabbing alongside her father, a fisherman who took care of his family by living off the land. Growing up was tough, where Joyce learned how to make very little go a long way. These formative years instilled in her a quiet confidence and a deep reverence for nature and not needing much to be happy in life.

Joyce was a beacon of non-judgmental kindness. She didn't speak ill of others and offered a gentle and quiet, accepting presence to everyone she met. Her warmth was comfort, a true reflection of her favorite color, yellow: the bright, welcoming hue of sunshine, butterflies, and Meyer lemons. She found immense joy in the simple pleasures, spending hours watching and feeding the birds, lizards, dogs, and cats - all of "God's creatures."

Life presented Joyce with profound challenges, including the endurance of losing three spouses. Yet, these tragedies, rather than hardening her spirit, deepened her compassion and fortified her will. She embraced both life’s finer pleasures and its trials with equal measure, demonstrating extraordinary strength and spirit. Those that knew a young Joyce would remember that she would roll up her sleeves in the morning crabbing and fishing and then, in the evening, dress up in a gown with high heels and a designer bag for an evening at The Blue Room with martinis and dancing.

Her career was a journey of service and creativity. As the former Director of the Head Start Program, she dedicated herself to providing vital early education to children from low-income families, promoting school readiness and bright futures. She was a woman of many talents: a gifted artist whose pieces graced the local farmers market and a popular restaurant in Navarre, Fl. She was also a nurse, a skilled seamstress, a dedicated teacher, and an exceptional cook. Her resourcefulness was legendary; after Hurricane Katrina, with no power, she managed to cook and feed over 20 people in a hotel using only a couple of small portable Sterno grills.

Joyce was the proud former owner of what is now the Ronald McDonald House on Canal Blvd., a building that, much like her own life, continues to provide comfort and shelter for those in need.

Above all, she was a cherished mother to two daughters and a son. Her love was a guiding light that will continue to shine in her absence.

Joyce’s legacy is not only in the work she did but in the quiet, strong way she moved through the world. She taught us that true resilience is entwined with kindness, and that a life well-lived is one of grace, resourcefulness, and a deep appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us. She will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

And finally, her faith in Jehovah was quiet and unwavering. Her last days were not without a moment of her holding or touching her bible. For Joyce during these last days, moving at all much less holding on to her bible was more than challenging. Her strength to keep her hand on her bible was a testament to her strength and faith. Joyce succumbed to the warrant of ALS.

We take solace that with our momma’s faith we will see her again.

Isaiah 41:10

Psalms 37:11

John 8:32

1 Thessalonians 4:16

Special Thanks to Compassus Hospice: Heather, Lindsey, Becca, Danielle, Levi and Sloan for compassionate care for and straightforward communication with the family. You were all wonderful.

We love you, Momma.