Worcester –
Joyce I. (Adams) Fuller, 97, of Worcester, passed away peacefully at the Knollwood Nursing Center on January 13, 2025. Her beloved husband, Russell Fuller, predeceased her in 2003, and her son Lincoln Fuller predeceased her in 2022. She leaves her son, Mark Fuller and her daughter in-law, Jan Fuller, of Boylston, her daughter-in-law, Deborah Fuller of New London, NH; her five grandchildren and their spouses: Kelsa (Fuller) Zereski and her husband Don of Boylston, Scott Fuller and his wife Ashley of Boylston, Lisa (Fuller) Cleary and her husband Ryan of Arlington, MA, Tracy (Fuller) Simeone and Jeff Simeone of Stratham, NH, Jessica Fuller of Arlington, MA, nine great grandchildren; Connor Hicks and his wife Margaret, Brendan Hicks; Adam, Sydney, and Kendall Fuller; Maya & Lucas Simeone; Jacob & Ethan Cleary and one great, great granddaughter, Rosalie Hicks. She also leaves three nieces and two nephews.
Joyce was the daughter of Ralph and Ruth Adams and was born on August 7, 1927, in Worcester. The family moved to the town of Boylston along with her two younger brothers Dana and Don, early in her life. She graduated from North High School in Worcester. Joyce began learning to play the piano at age six and took lessons to perfect her playing. Later, she began learning to play the pipe organ and took formal lessons in early adulthood. She was the organist and choir director at Old South Congregational Church in Worcester, and later for Holden Congregational Church. She was a 75-year member of the First Congregational Church of Boylston. Joyce was the music teacher at Boylston Elementary School when it opened a new facility in 1955. She taught there until she and Russ started an industrial supply business, REFCO, in 1959. She immediately became the bookkeeper and performed those duties for 20 years.
Joyce served on the Board of Trustees at Assumption College (now Assumption University) and the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. She held an honorary degree from Becker College. She served as a Trustee of the George F. & Sybil H. Fuller Foundation for 33 years ending in 2016 and was Vice Chairman and Assistant Treasurer for many of those years.
As for her hobbies and interests, family always came first. She and Russ had a second home in Quechee, Vermont for many years. She was an avid golfer, and she enjoyed her membership at the Worcester Country Club for more than 40 years. Joyce loved music of many genres, and she had a marvelous Soprano voice. She sang in a Sweet Adeline chorus and was part of a quartet known as the “Song Spinners”. Joyce participated in Boylston town musicals and revues for over 50 years, often serving as the accompanist while singing solos, duets, and quartets.
Joyce lived in the Briarwood Senior Community in Worcester for 23 years. In the later years of her life after the passing of her husband, she developed a wonderful relationship with another Briarwood resident, Kimball Woodbury, whose wife had passed away. He lived across the street in his cottage. They had dinner together every night for many years until he passed away in 2022. Special thanks are extended to the staff of the Knollwood Nursing Center where Joyce was living for the last three years. She was always safe while receiving great care.
There will be a private burial at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Boylston. There are no calling hours. A Celebration of Life will be held at the First Congregational Church of Boylston on Friday, January 17 at 11:00 AM. Lunch will be served in the Church’s fellowship hall following the service. The family may be greeted at that time. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations can be made to the First Congregational Church of Boylston, 10 Church Street, Boylston, MA 01505. Nordgren Memorial Chapel 300 Lincoln St. Worcester, MA 01605 is assisting the family with arrangements. To leave an online condolence message, please click guestbook link.