Joan Joy

Joan Esther Joy (1935 – 2020) was born Esther Wymer on 20th June 1935, in Norwich, one of six children. She was mainly brought up by her step-father, Bill. Joan married Peter Ward when she was 18. They had two daughters, Marilyn and Anne. They separated after 11 years and Joan married Mick Joy in 1969, who already had a son, Ady. They sadly had a still-born daughter, Michelle. Joan’s working life was mainly spent as a school dinner lady, but she also spent time as a school cleaner. She retired at the age of 76. Joan was a talented knitter, a passionate gardener and a great baker. She was a grandmother to Oliver and Sean, and also a great-grandmother to Hugo. Joan’s Alzheimer’s disease progressed to the point where she eventually had to leave her own home to be cared for in a nursing home. She died on 28th February 2020.