Obituary

Joyce (Houlder) Nichols, a lifelong resident of Wakefield, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital in Melrose following a brief illness. She was 83 years old.

Joyce was born in Medford on March 8, 1932, a daughter of the late Geoffrey H. Houlder and Frances (Stephens) Houlder. She grew up in Wakefield where she was educated in the Wakefield Public School system and graduated from Wakefield High School in 1949. Joyce received her Associates Degree from Fisher Junior College as a Legal Secretary. Joyce was a homemaker most of her adult life and took great pride caring for her husband and 3 children. She enjoyed visiting the beach, the picnics on lake Quannapowitt with her family and her passion in life was her interest in family geneology.

Joyce is the beloved wife of the late Robert S. Nichols. She is the devoted mother of Linda-Joy Gignac and her late husband Jerry Gignac, Deb Estes and her husband Robert Estes and Dave Nichols. She is the loving Grammie to Shawn, Crystal, Michael, Matthew, Jen, Geoff, Melissa, Gary and her great-grandchildren Becca, Cassie, Josh, Sam, Sophie, Ben and Ryan. She is the beloved sister of the late Rear Admiral Richard Houlder (Ret.) U.S. Navy and his surviving wife Jeanne Houlder.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours for Joyce on Sunday, March 29, 2015 from 2 to 4 P.M. in The Carr Funeral Home, 1159 Main St. Wakefield/Melrose line. Her Funeral Service and burial will be private.