SMITH, HELEN JOYCE

Helen Joyce (“Joyce”/”Joycie”) Smith, beloved wife of the late Walter J. Smith, died on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at Benchmark Senior Living in Hamden, CT. Joyce was born in Quincy, Florida, a daughter of the late A.G. and Helen Driggers. Joyce graduated as Valedictorian from Gadsden High School, Quincy, FL in 1951, and upon graduation went to work for the FBI in Washington, DC. It was there where she met her future husband, Walt, and moved to New Haven, CT after they married on September 12, 1953. They eventually moved to Hamden, CT where they raised their 6 children. Joyce was fond of word games, “Jeopardy”, jigsaw puzzles, and reading. In fact, you could almost always find her with a book or newspaper in her hand. An avid sports fan, she enjoyed cheering on her sons at all their sporting events. She loved politics and looked forward to her trips to New Hampshire for the primaries with her friends, Gloria and Dottie. She enjoyed travelling with her family on trips to Hawaii, Ireland, Washington, DC, and Florida, but most of all she loved just being surrounded by her family. She genuinely enjoyed babysitting all her grandchildren and was a caregiver for many years to 3 of her grandsons, Sean, Glenn, and Jack. She had a special relationship with Glenn, who has Down Syndrome, and lovingly referred to him as “Glenny-Glenn”. Joyce was a warm, loving and affectionate sister, mother, and grandmother who will be missed dearly. She is survived by her six children, Sharon (Ronnie) Gendreau of Elgin, SC, Kevin (Ann) Smith of Middletown, CT, Tom (Val Wiseman) Smith of Avon, CT, Jim (Sue) Smith of Trumbull, CT, Stephen Smith of Hamden, CT and Dan (Sarah) Smith of Hamden, CT; her sister, Jean Williams of Tallahassee, FL; also 14 grandchildren, Ryan (Stephen Gould) Gendreau, Kelly (Adam) Zetzer, Erin (Will) Roberts, Melissa (Patrick) Marzuk, Kim (Ryan) Young, Michael (Tyrone Hanley) Smith, Sean Smith, Glenn Smith, Jack Smith, Lily (Jordan) Higgins, Lizzie Smith, Kerry Smith, Tim Smith and Maddie Smith; plus 4 great-grandchildren, Liam and Caroline Roberts and Emme and Charlie Zetzer. The family is grateful to the kind and caring staff at Benchmark Senior Living at Hamden, particularly Sofia Walsh. Also, the family would like to thank Patricia Craig of Constellation Hospice and Deborah Valin for their care and compassion. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, April 19, 2021 at 10:00am in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Whitney Avenue, Hamden. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery, North Haven. Friends may call Sunday afternoon from 3-6pm at