Joyce Wolk

Born in Hartford on June 30, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Alex and Stella (Welczek) Szeluga.  She grew up in Hartford, attending local schools, graduated from Hartford Public High School and in 1954 she earned a BS degree from the Teachers College of Connecticut, now Central Connecticut State University.  Joyce began her teaching career in the elementary grades in Farmington Connecticut in the Noah Wallace School.

After she and husband Bob married, they lived in New Britain where Joyce taught at the Slater Road School.  Upon moving to East Hartford in 1967, she taught at several different schools in town for 25 years retiring in 1992. She and Bob enjoyed spending time at their vacation condo in Kennebunk, Maine.  Joyce was an avid volunteer for many service organizations, using her talents of sewing, knitting and crocheting.  She also volunteered at the elementary school in Tolland, Connecticut where her grandchildren lived.

Joyce has written and published 3 books for young readers. One of the books is about the history of the first Congregational Church of East Hartford of which Joyce is member and Deaconess.

She is survived by her daughter Claudia and husband Joseph Alvarez of Tolland Connecticut and grandchildren Rachel and her husband Ryan Hobson of Shelton Connecticut and Arianna and her husband Adrian Valois of San Tan Valley Arizona.  She also has one great grandchild, Rhett Hobson.  Joyce came from a large family which included Brothers: Tadeusz and wife Shirley Szeluga, Ludwig and wife Marion Szeluga, Raymond and wife Terri Szeluga, Richard Szeluga and Robert Szeluga, Sisters: Miriam Soderquist and Joan Gondeck.

Services will be held on Monday, November 10th at 10am at First Congregational Church of East Hartford on 837 Main Street, East Hartford.