South Portland - Joyce Marie Rinaldi, age 83, passed away peacefully on Monday afternoon, March 12, 2018 at the Maine Medical Center after a brief illness with her family by her side. Joyce was born in Houlton, Maine, the daughter of Berniece Devou and Milford Harris.
Joyce was known to be kind and welcoming of anyone she met. She was a vehement supporter of her family and friends, defending them with the fiercest loyalty. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and was a devoted grandmother to her two granddaughters, Sarah and Jessica. She endured many hardships throughout her life. She was born in Houlton, Maine with limited means and was the youngest of ten children. She and her mother came to Portland by train when she was 9 years old. Joyce lived in Portland most of her life where she attended North Grammar School, Jack Junior High School and graduated from Portland High School in 1952. Joyce worked for various local businesses as a secretary and data entry clerk, and was last employed for many years as an administrative clerk for Portland City Hall where she retired in 1994. Joyce married her husband, Sammy S. Rinaldi in 1960 and raised four children, Sam, Tracy, David and Rebecca. She had a talent for drawing, and other interests included musical theater and music such as old-time rock and roll and country western. She was a wonderful roller-skater, bowler and later on a “line dancer”. She had a wonderful Alto voice that was reminiscent of Patsy Cline whom she loved. She also was a member of the St. Pius Choir in Portland and was known to sing along to Karaoke at family functions. One time when she was young and singing with her brothers, someone approached her about recording, but she said she was too shy for that sort of thing. She was a communicant of St. Peter’s Church in Portland and attended local theater in the Greater Portland area.
She is predeceased by her parents, Berniece Leone (Grant) Devou and Milford William Harris, her brothers, John W., Roy F., Harold M., Robert M. and Floyd L. and her sisters, Clara A. (Devou) Bowring, Grace and Edna M. as well as her son, David A. Rinaldi.
She leaves behind her husband of 57 years, Sammy S. Rinaldi of South Portland, her son, Samuele M. and his wife Lynne F. (Boretti) Rinaldi of Scarborough, two daughters, Tracy L. Rinaldi of South Portland, Rebecca S. Rinaldi and her partner Lorna B. Paige of Yarmouth, two granddaughters, Sarah M. and Jessica L. Rinaldi both of Scarborough, one brother James L. Devou, her niece C. Dolores (Bruce) Williams, her beloved pet Pomeranian, Teddy and her son’s pets Chloe and Louie, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A time of visitation will be held Sunday, March 18, 2018 from 4 to 7 PM at Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St, Portland. Public prayers will be held at Jones, Rich & Barnes on Monday, March 19, 2018 at 9:15am followed by the a Mass of Christian Burial that will be celebrated 10 AM at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, 72 Federal St, Portland. Interment will follow in the family lot in New Calvary Cemetery, So. Portland. A reception will follow at Msgr. Domingo Hall at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church. For more information and to leave a tribute in Joyce’s memory please visit www.jonesrichandbarnes.com.
