Joyce L. Valante

Joyce L. Valante of Madison, NH, formerly of Quincy and Hanover, MA, and The Villages, FL, passed peacefully at home in the care of her family on May 9, 2025, after a brief illness. She was 82 years old.

Born December 29, 1942, to James and Mary (Driscoll) McCarron, Joyce was raised in Quincy with her sisters Jane and Justine. She graduated from Archbishop Williams High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in education at the State College at Boston. She taught elementary school in Quincy, and later at Esten School in Rockland where she retired after a long career doing what she loved - teaching young children to read.

Joyce met Tom Valante, the love of her life, in 1959 on a blind date at age 16. They married in 1965, a year after her college graduation and the start of her career as a teacher. They built a home and raised their four daughters in Hanover, with Joyce taking time from teaching to raise the girls. In her spare time, she volunteered as a Girl Troop Scout Leader, and at St. Mary’s Church in Hanover as CCD education coordinator for K-2, where she also helped organize church bazaars and led the pre-cana marriage preparation program with her husband Tom.

Joyce loved traveling, with family summers on Cape Cod, all seasons in Madison, cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean, visits to Ireland, and any adventure with “The Aunties” – her sister Jane and sister-in-law and best friend Helen Valante.

Joyce became “Grammie” in 2002 - a role she was more than ready for. She loved her grandchildren and was an integral part of their upbringing. Joyce supported them in shared interests (golf, piano, playing cards) and was even willing to ride her first rollercoaster at age 65 to make them happy. She loved board games and friendly poker with her grandchildren, who gave her the nickname “Up the Ante Valante”.

Joyce and Tom retired to Mashpee on Cape Cod and then The Villages in Florida for many years where Joyce enjoyed golfing (4 holes in 1!), dining out with friends, and teaching classes in making Nantucket Lightship Baskets, a decades long passion that she enjoyed sharing with family and friends. Joyce and Tom moved permanently to Madison, NH where they built their Cottage in daughter Joy’s backyard to be closer to family.

Joyce was artistic in so many ways - she sewed Paddington Bear stuffed dolls and coordinating outfits for the girls. She enjoyed tole painting on wooden cabinets and tables, and making her beloved Nantucket Baskets as purses, jewelry baskets, and more. Above all, she loved to share her gifts with family and friends. Many who knew Joyce likely have a hand-painted box or Nantucket basket with her initials on it.

Joyce is survived by her devoted husband Tom, her daughters and their families: Karen, Jim, Nicole, and Sam Powers of Sutton, MA; Joy, Theo, Max and Ari Gray of Madison, NH; Mary, Martin, Maggie and Mickey Quigley of NC; and many nieces and nephews. She joins her parents, James and Mary McCarron, sisters Jane (and Bob) Joyce and Justine (and George) Patten, and daughter Lora Guillotte.

Family and friends are invited on Saturday, May 24, 2025, to visiting hours at the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St, Quincy, MA from 10-11:30 AM followed by a service at Mount Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy at 12:00 PM.