Joyce E. Trainor, 81

O joyce trainor

Joyce Trainor

CUMBERLAND — Joyce E. Trainor, 81, of Cumberland, died peacefully in her home on Thursday morning, March 27, 2014.

Joyce was born in Oakland on Aug. 26, 1932. She was the eldest child of William F. Morton and Rev. Edith L. Morton of Oakland. She was a graduate of Williams High School in Oakland, Class of 1950. At Williams High, she was a three-letter basketball player and a member of the gymnastics team, majorette squad, glee club, choir, drama club and student council. She served as her class vice president and secretary-treasurer. Joyce graduated from Thomas College in Waterville in 1952 with a degree in business. She served as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper at Thomas. She was a member of and served as the secretary of the Chi Phi Sorority. She was also a member of the Thomas College “Co-operative” and served on its board of directors.

Joyce married her high school sweetheart, John A. Trainor, on Nov. 21, 1953 at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Oakland. Following their wedding, Joyce was primarily the homemaker and lived for a few years each in Oakland, Bangor, Orono and Westminster, Mass. In 1968, she and her husband John moved the family to Cumberland, where they raised their five children. Joyce worked for many years as an executive assistant in the principal’s and superintendent’s offices of the Cumberland/North Yarmouth School Department. From 1980 until 2000, she worked as an executive assistant at UNUM in Portland. In 1994, she was elected president of the Maine Chapter of Professional Secretaries International. Throughout her many years in the Town of Cumberland, Joyce volunteered her time regularly at the Prince Memorial Library and at the voting polls at election time.

Joyce was an avid traveler and was joint owner of Great Atlantic Travel Agency in Portland in the 1990s. She was very active throughout her life and particularly enjoyed skiing and golf. She was an excellent seamstress, often making articles of clothing for herself and her family. To her family, friends, and the medical community, Joyce was a true miracle of life. She was diagnosed with adult onset diabetes when she was in her 30s and for her last 47 years did a masterful job at controlling it with insulin, diet, and exercise. In November 2003, Joyce and her husband John celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and extended family.

Joyce was predeceased by her husband; her parents; and her younger sister, Loraine Jones of Oakland.

She is survived by her younger brother Wm. Frank Morton of Oakland; her five children, Charles E. of Portland, Thomas A. of New Gloucester, Colleen A. of Gorham, Joanne L. of Raymond and John W. of Derry, N.H.; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life and funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at Holy Martyrs Catholic Church, 266 Foreside Road, Falmouth. Interment will be at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Waterville later this spring. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to share condolences, memories and tributes with Joyce’s family.