Joyce Marie Henderson

Joyce was born in Houlton, Maine on August 13th 1940 to Lillian and Clinton Donovan. She was the second oldest of six children, Gerald (Jerry), Joyce, Robert (Bob), Margaret (Marty), Mary Jane and Cathy. In 1956, Joyce and family moved to Caribou, Maine, where she graduated from Caribou High School.

Joyce graduated from St Mary's School of Nursing, Lewiston, Maine in 1961. Her first nursing job was at Cary Memorial Hospital in Caribou, and soon joined the USAF as a Registered Nurse.

Her Air Force career gave her the opportunity to travel the world and to meet her soulmate, Harry.

Joyce met Harry while they were stationed at Eielson AFB, in Fairbanks, Alaska. They had both wanted to serve in Vietnam, but as fate would have it, they were sent to Alaska! Harry said at the time, Joyce was the hottest woman on base. He won her over even though she outranked him at the time.

They were married at Plattsburgh, AFB in 1966, where Joyce was stationed at her next duty station.

After 8 years of service, she left the military to start a family. They had a son, Christopher in 1968 and a daughter Jeannine in 1970. Joyce stayed home with her children for five years until she was called back to nursing.

Joyce was a very devout Catholic and an amazing nurse. She worked for local health facilities, Roseville Hospital, Placer County in Auburn and at the Sacramento County Jail. While Harry was stationed at Andrews, AFB in Maryland, Joyce continued to serve as a nurse for Kaiser and in the Army Reserve.

A kind and compassionate woman, Joyce spent many hours volunteering in the Catholic church, as a Eucharist Minister, a Sister of the Legion of Mary and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing cards, RVing with her late husband, frequenting the gym and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Joyce was preceded in death by Harry, beloved husband and a true officer and gentleman, siblings Marty Burks and Jane Donovan. She is survived by her remaining siblings, Jerry Donovan, Bob Donovan and Cathy Donovan and her children, Jeannine and Christopher. She is also survived by her 5 grandchildren, Taylor, Nico, Hannah, Sofia and Brooke.

Family and friends are invited to attend recitation of the Rosary at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 7th and Funeral Mass on Thursday, March 7th at 11:00 a.m. Both services will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 280 Oak Tree Lane, Lincoln, CA. A reception will be held following mass at the St. Joseph’s Parish Hall.

For those wishing to contribute, memorial donations in honor of Joyce may be made to the Lazarus Committee at St. Joseph's Church in Lincoln.

Joyce was a person of faith and lived a life serving others. She rejoins her loved ones and is now reunited with her husband of 51 years, Harry.