Joyce Johnson

Joyce was born in Worcester, MA on April 13, 1948. She made several lifelong connections through her school years and the Trinity Lutheran Church. She went on to graduate from Forsyth Dental School, which was affiliated with Northeastern University, and had a brief career as a dental hygienist.

Intellectually curious, Joyce continued her education as an adult, earning a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard Extension, where she graduated as valedictorian of her class. Her passion for reading spanned a wide range of interests, from classical literature to popular authors like Sue Grafton, Diana Gabaldon (The Outlander series), and Dan Brown.

A fierce competitor, she was a master at the board game Scrabble and often ran the categories while watching Jeopardy! during the Alex Trebek era. She was also a lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. In her later years, Joyce devoted countless hours to genealogy and was proud to have certified herself as an Elizabeth Tilley Mayflower descendant.

A devoted family woman, Joyce lived in Acton, MA, for many years where she raised her two children with her husband. She cherished her role as a mother and later, a grandmother. She took great pleasure in watching her granddaughters Megan, Kelly, and Sarah participate in various activities, including swimming, choir, theater, and volleyball.

A dedicated snowbird for many years, Joyce wintered in Henderson, NV. This allowed her to frequently visit her son and his family in Southern California. She split many holidays between the two coasts, and particularly enjoyed holiday functions and special events that were cooked by her son-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Donna Johnston Gleason.

Joyce is survived by Donald Johnson of Eastham, MA, with whom she raised her two children; her daughter Ingrid Sawvelle and her husband Michael of Marlborough, MA; her son Donald Johnson, Jr. and his wife Kimberley of Ladera Ranch, CA; her three grandchildren, Megan, Kelly, and Sarah Johnson, all of Ladera Ranch, CA; and her nephew, Michael Gleason and his wife Cindy of Sutton, MA.

Burial will be private. A celebration of life luncheon will be held in Concord, MA, on Thursday, October 23, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Acton Memorial Library Foundation, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation.