Remembering a life lived with grace and dignity.
Obituary
Joyce Driscoll, aged 84 of Rockaway, passed peacefully in her home September 20th, surrounded by her family. Born in Kearny to John Nairn Steel and Gertrude DeYoung Steel, and nurtured by her second mother Eleanor Hogan Steel. Joyce graduated Kearny High and pursued a career in stenography. As supervisor of the steno pool, Joyce arrived at work each day in her little red MG convertible and caught the eye of George, who asked around, “who is that girl in the MG?”
On February 23, 1963 Joyce married the love of her life George Driscoll. Together, they owned and operated Industrial Climate Control Systems (I.C.C.S) of Dover for over 50 years.
Joyce and George were lifelong residents of Rockway Township where they raised their four daughters; Kathleen (Peter) Duffy and Maureen (Mark) Norris, of Mount Arlington, NJ; Colleen (Chris) Robinson of Danbury, CT; and Doreen (Seymour) Forman of Long Valley, NJ. Joyce possessed a loving devotion to family that was incredible and she passed that to her children, of whom she was so proud.
Joyce was actively involved in the township’s Parks and Recreation Committee. She was instrumental in preserving several Green Acres sites and building and protecting children's parks throughout the township. Once Joyce even organized a sit-in and picket line of children protesting the removal of the park on Willow Road. By sit-in we mean, she sat in the bucket loader to prevent it from destroying her beloved park.
Joyce painstakingly learned the game of softball, having never played herself, to enable her to coach in the township girls softball program, go Robins! Joyce worked the election polls for 40 years and called friend all she encountered. For years she served as treasurer and event coordinator for the Rockaway Twp. Seniors Center. She is credited for organizing many domestic and international trips for her beloved Seniors Group. Joyce loved to travel and shared that love with her many friends.
Joyce touched so many lives and tried to make the world a better place for all. Love, devotion, tenacity, graciousness, and bravery are the best words to describe her life. She was a spitfire with a love of adventure, who was beautiful inside and out. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her, but none more than her loving family. May God grant Joyce a well deserved rest and a reunion with those she loved and lost before her own departure from this world.
Joyce was predeceased by her beloved husband George, brother Mark Hogan and sister Marilyn Moore. She is survived by her brother Robert Steel of Newport, VT, sisters Barbara Marsh of Lakewood, NJ and Peggy Forte of Glen Gardner, NJ; 4 daughters; and 7 grandchildren, Patrick (Cece) Driscoll, Jessica and Katie (Bryce Urian) Forman, Kiera and Ian Robinson and Kyle and Brianna (Andy Tamayo) Norris.
A Celebration of Life will be held in loving memory of Joyce on October 27th, 2024 at The Hanover Manor, East Hanover NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully requests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital (stjude.org) or the Alzheimer's Foundation (alzfdn.org).
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