Joyce Stucki

OAKLAND — Joyce Elaine Stucki, 79, died on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015.

Joyce was born in Bridgton to Curtis and Alice Smith as their first child on July 27, 1936. She had a very happy childhood growing up in the small town of Bridgton, surrounded by the lakes and hills of Western Maine. Grandparents lived not far away. Summers were for swimming in Highland Lake. Grammar school was a short walk away along with a quick lunch at home. Veggies came from the family’s garden. Music always was a special pleasure. Sundays, even as a young child, found her singing with the Methodist Church choir.

A variety of high school activities kept her busy, with singing, her studies, and her being a loyal school sports fan. Her work during a number of summers as a waitress at the Dam Site Restaurant in Bridgton helped earn the dollars she’d soon need to attend nursing school. She graduated from Bridgton High School in 1954 as her class valedictorian.

She then attended Maine Medical Nursing School in Portland, where she earned her R.N. degree and met the love of her life, Paul Stucki, who at the time was a medical intern. They married on March 17, 1957 — St. Patrick’s Day — just before Paul’s Army orders took him to a 16-month tour of duty in Korea as a captain in the medical corps. A highlight for Joyce and Paul during those 16 months was made possible when Joyce got a job in Japan teaching English and also working as an R.N. in an Adventist Hospital in Tokyo. The arrangement allowed for two very brief, but wonderful reunions in Japan.

Much later, when Paul started orthopedic practice in Waterville, Joyce served as the office manager/nurse. During those busy early marriage/early office practice years, she was also doing her share raising four children (three sons and a daughter), making innumerable trips to and from soccer practice and other Oak Grove school events and, as well, some years later, managing, together with several R.N. friends, to attend Thomas College for her bachelor’s degree.

A camp on Snow Pond kept Joyce and family busy summers. During other, later summers Joyce enjoyed family “trips to the coast” to enjoy lobsters and clams with husband, children and grandchildren. In winter, there were many happy snowy family weekends at Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley.

Joyce loved antiquing and early in life joined a dozen or so other young wives in meeting regularly as the Waterville Antique Club. The friendships developed there grew and remained strong over the many years since so that many of the club’s members, now themselves qualifying as antiques(!) continue to meet regularly. Joyce will be sorely missed.

A particular commitment of Joyce’s was her faith, her lifelong interest in and faithfulness to Christian practice and study. For some years, often with the help of pastor she organized and hosted in her home a group of interested folk and friends for “bread and soup” devotional studies, which were enjoyed by all.

Joyce was predeceased by her loving husband, Paul on Oct. 10, 2015; by her parents; and by her brother Bruce (Smith).

She leaves her children Mark, David, Jon and Beth; two grandchildren; a brother, Ron Smith; and nieces.

Due to the proximity of Joyce’s passing with her husband’s death only six days previous, a combination celebration service was held on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, at 2 p.m., at the Oakland-Sidney United Methodist Church.