Joyce Bink Silber, 83, passed away peacefully at her home in Naples, Florida on Monday, April 29, 2024, surrounded by her loving friends and family. Although she had battled cancer for many years, she always lived life to the fullest, held strong to her faith in God’s plan, and for those who were blessed to have known her, she demonstrated what it meant to be a great listener and true friend. Typically, after spending time with her, people would say they were better off for knowing her. She always enjoyed social gatherings and was often called the life of the party.
Joyce was born in Pittsfield, MA on October 27, 1940, to Giuseppe “Joe” Elso and Rosina “Rose” Liporace Elso, who had both immigrated from Calabria Italy, and later owned and operated restaurants over the border in Chatham NY.
She was predeceased by her husband Alvin Silber, brothers Joe and Tony Elso, sisters Helen Hinman and Yolanda Martin, the father of her children Gordon K. Bink, and her partner Michael T. Duda.
Joyce had many lifelong friends from elementary school, and later graduated with from Pittsfield High School. She loved recollecting their adventures and would tell stories of her and her friends rolling up the rugs in her parent’s home and dancing after school. It was a home filled with joy, love, and laughter. After high school she worked at her father’s restaurant which was where she met her first husband Gordon, who had recently returned to New York after serving in the Air Force.
Coming from large Italian family, she enjoyed cooking and baking as a way of bringing everyone together. As she and her sisters often did during the holidays with their large extended families. Joyce also enjoyed sharing her creations with friends and neighbors, and was well known for her Italian cookies, pizzelles, and of course her famous almond bread.
Once her children were in school, Joyce began her banking career at First Agricultural Bank and worked her way up from being a teller to the head of their training department. She always enjoyed the interaction with the other employees and became friends with many of the customers. The bank was also where Joyce became friends with, and later married “the love of her life” Al Silber. She was dedicated to him and eventually retired early to care for her husband Al during the years he fought Alzheimer’s disease.
Loving fashion as she did, she would sometimes be asked to model for local clothing stores. As fate would have it, one of her favorite hobbies, shopping, led her to the luxury boutique Casablanca in Lenox, MA, where she met Tony Chojnowski. She worked there for over 20 years it fulfilled the social life she craved and provided the opportunity to help customers dress and feel their very best. Tony and the rest of the staff became her “working family’.
Wintering in Naples, FL, at Cypress Woods Golf Community, filled her heart with the many lasting friendships she made while out walking her furry companion Bandit. She was lucky enough to be invited on a chance of a lifetime European tour with her good friends Gary and Vicky Grabowski and Cheryl Bemis. She loved to return to Naples every year in the fall and catch up with her long-time neighbor and friend Lucia Fedel, and so enjoyed the walkway garden her neighbors Pam Hughes and Barb Poorman designed and planted for her.
Her two grandchildren Chris and Nick Wilbur brought her much joy and she looked forward to their phone calls so she could catch up and hear about all the adventures with their wives Kelsey and Leigh who she loved like her own granddaughters. She was especially excited when she got the news she was going to become a great Nana to Mason.
Joyce is survived by her sister Nancy (Gilbert) Guerin, daughters Brenda (Rick) Wilbur, Sandra Bink (Jerry) Lyon, son Brian Bink, grandsons Chris (Kelsey) Wilbur and Nicholas (Leigh) Wilbur, great grandson Mason Wilbur, and her beloved dog bandit.
The family would like to thank and make special mention of her caretakers and girl Friday's during the years she was ill especially Nancy Roviaro, Lori Wines, Ramot Kwadu, and her pizza buddy Lisa Archey. They also want to remember her friend Lilianna Bibic who brought her special baked goods, flowers and all sorts of baubles to complete Joyce's latest ensemble.
Joyce’s was interred at Hodges at Naples Memorial Gardens in Naples, FL. A memorial service will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Pittsfield, MA on May 25, 2024, at 10 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either of these two Pittsfield, MA organizations: The Elizabeth Freeman Center or The Berkshire Humane Society.
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