Joyce A. Wade, age 75 of New Castle, DE and formerly of Wilmington and Bear, DE passed away surrounded by her loving family on August 27, 2023.
She was born in Ash County, NC and while in middle school the family moved to Wilmington, DE. Joyce was the daughter for the late Ada and Barney McCoy. She attended Wilmington High School.
Joyce dedicated her life to her family and enjoyed watching it grow with grandchildren and great grandchild. She raised 5 kids on a farm in Bear for most of her life. This brought her much delight to have so much free space for her kids to run, scream and play! But Joyce also taught them so much; how to be caring, selfless and to be strong hard-working humans. She led by example; Joyce was the strongest person you could ever meet! Her grandchildren will always cherish the memory, with a mischievous grin, Mommom was always good for having a ”Whacker” around, whether it was a Hot Wheels track or a spatula, that was Mommom’s whacker.
She enjoyed cooking; it was a wonder how she made so many meals from scratch and hardly used a measuring cup! Joyce also cooked way too much food every holiday and would send everyone home with a plate of leftovers. Another talent of hers was her enjoyment of crafts. Joyce decorated the home for every holiday with homemade crafts. She also made many beautiful gifts and memories for other people; giving them away or to be sold her work! Sewing was another skill Joyce exceled in. She could sew anything, she made curtains, blankets and even made, with love, her kids’ clothing when they were growing up!
Joyce and the family later moved to Wilmington. She enjoyed watching from her back porch, the children playing at the school behind her house. Of course, even more, she cherished watching her own grandchildren playing in her yard. Joyce tended to her garden but she was more importantly known for her green thumb and her many house plants where she could keep anything alive.
Her husband of 48 years, Gregory Wade passed in 2014. She is survived by her 3 children, Gregory McCoy, Jason Wade and Ashley Wade; 12 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 2 siblings, Lisa Dixon (Larry) and Jessie McCoy (Sylvia). Joyce is also preceded in death by her sons, Paul Wade and Jeff Wade and 2 siblings, Michael McCoy and Ellen Caison.
Services and burial will be held privately at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Joyce’s son Jeff’s name to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 669, New Castle, DE 19720 or online at cancer.org
For online condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com
