Obituary of Joyce Lorraine Clark

Joyce Lorraine Clark of Palm Bay, Florida, passed away surrounded by love ones Saturday, February 29, 2020 at William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay.  She was born May 27, 1936 in Jersey City New Jersey to James and Edith Villani. She has 2 Brothers, Joseph Villani and Louis Villani (deceased) Joyce is survived by her loving husband George W. Clark. They married June 9, 1956 in Secaucus NJ. They had two sons John (Barbara) Clark, George (Irene) Clark, 6 grandchildren, Anthony (Leanne) Clark, Christopher (Kathryn) Clark, Maria (Jeremy) Strickland, Jackie (Paul) Manross, Joy (Eric) Spiak and Jennifer Clark, 16 Great Grandchildren, Tanner, Marina, Chase, Gage, Destiny, Layla, Fischer, Noah, Lily, Coral, Amelia, Whyatt, Hunter, Dominick, Bryson, and Aubree. Joyce and George lived in New Jersey for many years. Joyce worked as a volunteer EMT, responding to calls for medical assistance while being a wife and mother and working full time. She became one of the first women to be certified in the state of NJ to operate a crash rig. Joyce and George owned several businesses while in NJ. Central tire, Clark’s trucking, and Clark’s country kitchen in Jackson. They moved to Melbourne in 1989 where she found her real niche in education. Joyce felt that finding this career was definitely a blessing that was meant for her life. She worked with special needs children for many years and then went on to teach title 1 at Dr. W. J. Creel Elementary until she retired in 2012. When asked one day why she stayed so long in education she replied, “I teach not for reward or praise, but because these are our children and they are our future”. Joyce loved spending time with her family and friends, loved to cook and bake, especially around the holidays, when all of her family was together. We will all miss her deeply. We love you Joyce, Shorty, Morning, Nana and Nene, the woman of many names. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to William Child’s Hospice House in Palm Bay, Florida.