Joyce Ian

Acworth, Ga. — Joyce Ian, age 88, died Friday, May 4, 2018, in Acworth. A native of Connecticut, she was born in Middletown, Conn., the youngest of six children whose parents immigrated from Italy with their three oldest children. She graduated from the College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, N.Y., and moved to New York City in her early twenties, where she met her husband Dan, who died in 2017 after 65 years of marriage. Dan and Joyce raised their three children in Pelham and Montauk, N.Y. They later lived in Grantham and Etna, N.H. for more than 25 years, and Sarasota, Fla., from 2010 to 2017. 

A creative and joyful person, Joyce worked in silk screen design and pursued many arts including watercolors, pottery, choral group singing – her repertoire of songs was vast – and also taught ballroom dancing. She was also an avid gardener and home decorator. For many years Joyce and her husband created sets for Hanover’s Christmas Revels shows and props for Opera North. She was also a member of the Christmas Revels chorus.

Joyce is survived by a daughter, Jennifer and her husband John Sheets of New York, N.Y.; son Peter and his wife Janet of Dallas, Ga.; son Christopher of Lebanon, N.H.; and grandsons. Philip and his fiance Abigail, and David and his wife Hannah of Athens, Ga. She will be missed and remembered for her cheerful demeanor, wit and creative spirit.