Joyce A. Sunderland

Born in Albany, NY a daughter of the late Harold S. and Loretta D. (Petersen) Butler she was a longtime resident of Swansea.

A graduate of The Albany Academy, formerly Girls School Academy in New York she attended Hobart College and earned a Bachelor of Arts from New York State University at New Paltz and a Master’s degree in Education from Rhode Island College.

An Elementary School Teacher for the Warren School Department, she taught for 17 years retiring in 1983. An avid sailor, she was First Mate for Al on the multi-hulled boats that he built. She enjoyed traveling with Al and taking in as much nature as she could. An active member of her community she volunteered at the Shepherd’s Center and many other organizations.

She is survived by four daughters, Daryl Ann Keyes, Lori Joyce Bolton and her husband Barry, Gwen Moss Haggett and her husband David and Joan Amelia Stone and her husband Kenneth; six grandchildren, Chelsea Jean and Ryan Valois, Jenifer Joyce Bolton and Jake Coutinho, Mary Grace and Kevin Miller, Emily Lynn Haggett, Amelia Rose Stone and Derek Albert Kovary and Wendy Silva; and three great-grandchildren, Kayleb Matthew Kovary Silva, Eleanor Joy Valois and Rowen Albert Coutinho and River Valois who is on his way. She was the sister of the late Edward A. Butler and mother-in-law of the late David W. Keyes.

Her Funeral will be Saturday, July 2, 2022 at 10:00 AM in Christ Church, 57 Main Street, Swansea. Burial will be in Christ Church Cemetery, Swansea. Visiting hours are Friday from 4:00 – 7:00 PM in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Birchcrest, 189 Gardners Neck Road, Swansea. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her honor may be made to Heifer International, 216 Wachusett Street, Rutland, MA 01543, www.heifer.org. For directions and online condolences, www.waring-sullivan.com