Joyce Elizabeth (Way) Ladd

We are saddened by the loss of Joyce Elizabeth Ladd, who passed away peacefully in her home on October 5th, 2022. It is difficult to sum up Joyce’s interesting and unique personality in one word because she was so many things to so many people. She leaves behind many family and friends who will sorely miss her
Joyce was the eldest daughter of Elizabeth and Herbert Way of Norwich, CT. Joyce was a loving and devoted sister to Elizabeth “Bette” Royce and sister-in-law to Frank Royce. Joyce also leaves behind her children, Paul A. Ladd and his wife Lisa of Griswold, CT and her daughter Lysa Ladd Yarusewicz and her husband Peter of Tucson, AZ. As they were blessed to have her as their grandmother, Joyce was blessed to have 5 grandchildren: Aubrey Knoff and her husband David, Becker Wank, Christopher Ladd. Bethany Ladd and Matthew Ladd. Joyce had many nieces and nephews and their children who will also miss her: Andrew and Jen, Christine and Patti, Curtis and Tina, Lauren and Darcie. She was also loved by son-in-law Gregory Wank, who predeceased her. Joyce also leaves behind her two furbabies, cats Sofie and Bubba, rescued from the side of the road and deeply loved.
Joyce grew up in Preston, CT and later attended Norwich Free Academy. She became a young bride and mother and raised her two children while working at Backus Hospital. But her work life, like her personality, was absolutely anything but ordinary. Joyce spent time working as a telephone operator, a secretary, a medical office manager, a child support enforcement clerk with the Judicial Department in Norwich, CT and even a mail carrier! She later moved to a beautiful, woodsy home in Griswold with her second husband and their host of animals, including pygmy goats, ducks, pigs, chickens, and cows. Joyce lived in many places and enjoyed each one, all the while attending every sports game, concert, recital, picnic, party and graduation her grandkids invited her to. She was always up for whatever was happening, especially babysitting and even pet-sitting! She looked forward to every birthday party and every holiday and came with bells on and trays of her signature dish, deviled eggs.
Though she was often cozied up at home with her sweet cats, one of Joyce’s favorite things to do was to travel. She traveled alone with a tour group to Peru and the Galapagos Islands, which was definitely her travel highlight. She also took numerous family vacations to Niagara Falls, San Francisco and Northern California, Colonial Williamsburg and Florida, to name a few, and countless day trips all over New England.
Joyce had a sharp wit and was free with her laughter, and she like no more than to laugh at herself. We all have dear memories of her laughter like Joyce and Bette cracking up about something silly she had done or one of her grandkids putting plastic spiders on her pillow to scare her and watch her laugh. She could also give as good as she got and liked to tease people right back. Joyce was also very generous, offering whatever she had to her family members and donating to many charities. Even in times when she had less she gave more, which is a truly beautiful quality in a person.
There is so much more to say about Joyce but the most important things are that she loved deeply, was loved deeply and always did and gave the most she could for those around her. Again, Joyce will be sorely missed by family and friends alike and we know that things will not be the same without her.

A celebration of life will be held on October 18, 2022 between the hours of 5 and 8 p.m. at 178 Banjo Sullivan Road, Griswold, CT 06351. A family burial will be held on October 19, 2022, at 10 a.m. at the Maplewood Cemetery, in Norwich CT.

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