Joyce A. Decken
East Lyme — Joyce A. Decken, 88, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 12, 2022, at Bayview Health Care, Waterford. She was born March 24, 1934, in Bronx, N.Y., the daughter of John and Susan Roncek Kosinsky. She married William J. Decken, who predeceased her.
Joyce and Bill raised their family of five children in New City, N.Y. They retired to Niantic, and Ocala, Fla. They loved driving to their Ocala home when winter hit Niantic. Joyce would always be knitting a baby sweater on their drive South and again North for the great-grandchildren to be and then sweaters for the grandchildren and greats as they grew. She also loved quilting and quilted all her children and grandchildren many quilts and beautiful wall hangings. There wasn’t a craft that Joyce didn’t do and excel at and the wonderful friends that she made at her crafting groups were endless and dear to her heart!
Joyce was a homemaker, first and foremost. She and Bill were foster parents to many, many infants and toddlers in Rockland County for over 20 years. Joyce loved babies and thought nothing of getting up through the night with the babies she took into their home. She kept in touch with many of the parents who adopted their foster children, always caring about how the children were doing in their new home. Joyce and Bill were exceptional parents showing their birth children, as they grew, that caring for and taking in other children who didn’t have a home, was the right thing to do.
She is survived by her children, Susan Kalage (Chris), Bill Decken (Grace), Janet Brinkman (Steve), Sean Decken; and seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter Sandi Decken.
The family would like to thank all the staff on the East Wing of Bayview Health Care in Waterford. Their care and attention to “Miss Joyce” was heartwarming.
There will be a brief service at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. A private funeral service and interment will follow at the Connecticut Veterans Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to either the American Cancer Society or Alzheimer’s Association. Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic, has been entrusted with handling arrangements. Please visit www.neilanfuneralhome.com to leave the family an online condolence.