Joyce W. Rogers

Westbrook- Joyce Rogers went home to be with The Lord on May 18, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. Born Joyce Woodward Connors on January 31, 1932 in Jamaica Plain, MA to Elizabeth Woodward and John Joseph Connors, she spent the first few years of her life in Quincy, MA before moving with her Dad to “Grammie’s House” in Portsmouth, NH. Surrounded by three uncles, dear Aunt Mollie, Grammie and her Dad, it was a loving and fun existence on “Creek Hill.”

Joyce attended St. Patrick’s Grammar School before graduating from Portsmouth High School in 1950, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, a class officer, and was active in arts and dramatics. She attended Mount St. Mary College (now St. Anselm) where she was a regular on the Dean’s List, President of the Art and Political Science Clubs, a class officer, active in Art Ed, a columnist of the Charter News and the Portico, chair of numerous events, and was active in dramatics. She graduated in 1954, Magna Cum Laude with two majors and two minors (“not much else to do up there in the pucker brush”), and was President of the Student Government Association. Convinced that “someone wanted me out of the country badly enough” Joyce was awarded a scholarship to Oxford University by the Institute of International Education. Earning her graduate degree in 20th Century English Politics and Literature, she returned to the states to work as Assistant to the Promotion Manager at Little, Brown & Co, Publishers in Boston, living in “several shoddy apartments” on the backside of Beacon Hill. There (“outside the shoddy apartments”) she met a young BU Law student from Portland, ME named Edward Rogers. They fell in love and were married on July 27, 1957 at St. Catherine’s Church in Portsmouth, whereupon Ed carried Joyce off to Portland in a little white charger (that looked strangely like a green Chevy).

With Joyce working at Cheverus and an assistant planner for the Portland Regional Planning Commission, Ed graduated from the University of Maine School of Law (then Portland Law School) in 1958 and set up his law practice. In 1959 Edward, Jr. was born, followed in 1960 by brother Stephen. Life at Forest Park became a mite cramped so they bought a house on Westbrook Street in the Stroudwater section of Portland. Five more children followed and Joyce soon became active inside and outside the home. She served at St. Patrick’s Church as a CCD teacher, CYO advisor, and in the Christian Family Movement; President of the Roosevelt School PTA; the Republican City Committee, and working for Ed when he ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Legislature from Portland (after all, he was a Republican!). Joyce was mentioned in the book “Portraits of 100 Catholic Women in Maine” by Fr. Vincent Lapomarda. As a stay-at-home Mom, in 1971 Joyce began a column titled “I’m Outnumbered” about the fun and follies of a large family. She was labeled by some as a local Erma Bombeck (“When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.” – EB). Joyce received a respectable amount of fan mail from her column, many from mothers who related directly to her warm and humorous tales. Joyce had a passion for education, and expressing her opinions on that subject in her column got her elected to the Portland School Committee – and fired from the Portland Press Herald. Joyce parlayed that passion into being elected President of the Portland School Committee, then to the State Board, the New England Board, and eventually the National School Board Association. Joyce relished that experience and met many incredible people who became lifelong friends. Joyce continued to add to her extensive resume’ by serving on the Crystal Lake Association, PERT, Maine School Management, Teacher Certification Small District Forum, board member of St. Joseph’s Manor, President of the Woman’s Literary Union, and member of the Colonial Village Condo Association.

Among all the accolades and accomplishments, Joyce lived her faith, devoted herself happily and completely to her family, and cherished the bounty of friends that filled her life. Her son Chris said “all seven kids viewed our Mom as one of the most intelligent and charismatic people we ever knew. We all believed fervently that she could have done virtually anything – CEO, doctor, lawyer. Yet she chose instead to devote herself to being the very best homemaker she could be, and nobody did it better. She filled the house with love and warmth, she was steadfastly devoted to our Dad, she was a firm and fair disciplinarian, and she was deeply involved and interested in absolutely everything any of us ever did.” Joyce welcomed so many of her children’s friends into her home as they were growing up, many of whom became affectionately known as her “second family.” Joyce loved the holidays and created so many lasting memories and traditions. When her children had friends at college who couldn’t travel home for Easter or Thanksgiving, Joyce would insist that they come and stay with her family and they would always wake up to find they had their own basket just like the family. Joyce would have her apron on Thanksgiving Day from sunrise to sundown, and the love and commitment to family would resonate from the house like so many fragrant smells coming from the kitchen. (“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Halftimes take twelve minutes. This is not a coincidence.” – EB). The summers at Crystal Lake are also woven deeply into the fabric of magical memories of Joyce’s family and she cherished playing hostess there to her family and friends.

The happiness and pride Joyce enjoyed from her husband and children only multiplied when the grandchildren came along. The affection and admiration between Joyce and her 27 grandkids was deep and mutual. She was a regular guest at elementary school grandparents’ day, she was a loyal fan at their sports and other events, and she actively followed everything all 27 of them did until the very end.

Throughout her life, Joyce loved to read, write, and draw. She had a keen interest in and a wonderful eye for art. She was an expert at doing the New York Times crossword puzzles and a skilled bridge player. She enjoyed golf with friends at Poland Spring. She and Ed loved their summers at Crystal Lake, and later in life, their stays in St. Augustine, FL.

Joyce was predeceased by her father and mother, and by her wonderful husband of 43 years. She is survived by her son Edward and his children EJ, Ben, Olivia and Lindsay; son Stephen and his wife Jennifer and their children Kristin, Stephanie and Nikki; son Christopher and his wife Nova and their children Ryan, Aaron, Justin and Katie; daughter Mary (McDonald) and her husband John and their children JT, Matt, Kelsy, Meaghan and Mollie; daughter Andrea (Burton) and her children Ashleigh, Nick, Jessica, Victoria and Alex; daughter Jennifer (Hickey) and her husband Brendan and their children Paige, Anna, Allyson, and Brendan; son Matt and his wife Stacey and their children Nate and Liza; as well sons in-law David Labbe and David Burton and daughters in-law Deborah Buccina and April Agger Rogers. Joyce leaves behind many, many friends.

The Rogers family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Avita of Stroudwater for their care, concern, and genuine love for Joyce. Their kindness for her went so far beyond just doing their job. Their love for her was deep and it was mutual. The family would also like to thank the staff at New England Rehab for their kindness and kinship where Joyce participated in a book club, a painting class, and a support group for people recovering from brain injuries as well as the staff at Compassus Hospice.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Maine Children’s Cancer Program. c/o MMC Philanthropy Office, 22 Bramhall St, Portland, ME 04102.

Friends and family are invited to a time of visitation from 3-8 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at Jones Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am on Friday, May 25th, at Holy Martyrs Church, 266 Foreside Rd., Falmouth. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.

Please visit www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to sign Joyce’s online guest book.