Joyce L. Freeman

Joyce L. (Walker) Freeman, 87 of Worcester, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Joyce was born in Worcester, a daughter of the late Charles R. and Marion L. (Walker) Jones. She attended from the former Commerce High School in Worcester and later in her 50s went back to school and graduated with her bachelors and master’s degrees from New Hampshire College. Joyce worked for the City of Worcester School Department as a school adjustment counselor for 11 years retiring in 1997. During her time at the school department, Joyce founded the former Martin Luther King, Jr. Welcoming Committee for the city’s school department. Joyce was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, a former member of the Nipmuc Tribal Acknowledgment Project, Nipmuc Woman’s Health Coalition and the Worcester Senior Center. She was also an avid painter.

Joyce is survived by three sons, Stanley Freeman and his wife Sharon of Tacoma, WA., Frederick Freeman and his wife Bente of Oakham and Charles R. Freeman and his wife Migdalia of Houston, TX; two daughters, Joyanne H. Carter and her husband David and Heidi L. Freeman all of Worcester; a sister, Anne Kozdron of Whiting, NJ; ten grandchildren, Erica and Dana Freeman, Charles Assencoa, Jasmine and Jamaal Carter, Tove, Morgan, Suletu and Charles “CJ” Freeman, Jr. and Cassandra Dortch; two great grandchildren, Aliyah Assencoa and Shayliah Carter. Besides her parents, she is predeceased by a sister, Hope Hopiak.

Relatives and friends are invited to a period of calling hours on Saturday, December 1st from 10 am to 12 noon with her funeral service to be celebrated immediately at 12 noon in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, 300 5th Avenue, Suite 6 Waltham, MA. 02451.