Joyce Helene Anne (Reese) Brady

Seneca Falls - Joyce Helene Anne Reese Brady, 86 of Jay St., Seneca Falls, NY, passed away & went to Heaven on Tuesday (October 11, 2022).

Family & friends may call at the Doran Funeral Home, 4 E. Bayard St., Seneca Falls, NY on Thursday (October 13) from 5 - 7 PM. Joyce's Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday (October 14) at 10 AM at St, Patrick's Church, Seneca Falls, NY. Burial will be in St. Columbkille Cemetery Seneca Falls, NY at the convenience of the family. If desired, contributions may be made to St. Patrick's Church, 35 Center St., Waterloo, NY 13165 or to a veteran's organization of choice.

Joyce was born on in the hamlet of Canoga, NY on August 8, 1936, in the family rented home, where she attended school in a one room school house. At age 5 years, Joyce moved with her family to their new home on the lower Cayuga Lake Road in Seneca Falls, NY, where she completed her elementary education at Elizabeth Cady Stanton School. At this point in her life she was known for swimming across Cayuga lake and back for the sole purpose of getting her name in the paper. She then attended Mynderse Academy and was in the first class to graduate from the Troy St. High School in 1954. She loved her teachers and her classmates.

Joyce worked her summers as a soda jerk near the present site of the boat launch site at Cayuga Lake State Park. After three years at the Genesee Hospital School of Nursing and specializing at Strong Memorial Hospital, she graduated as a Registered Professional Nurse. When Joyce was 20 years old and only six days after her graduation, she married Francis Brady on June 22, 1957. She then became a staff nurse at Willard State Hospital, South Wing. The hospital had Joyce and Francis removed from their North Home residence because the rule was no married couples who lived there were to be pregnant. On July 27th,1958, Joyce delivered Daniel John Brady, their first son. Returning to Willard, she soon became the head nurse of the operating room and remained there for 12 years. During this time, she delivered their second son, Jeffrey Francis Brady, on September 27, 1966. She returned to the O.R. and shortly after that she became a Nurse Administrator in the Hatch Building. Continuing her education, she attended Auburn Community College, Syracuse University, Empire State College, and Long Island University. Over the years, Joyce had received the following degrees: Bachelors of Science in Administration, Master of Science in Education in Community Mental Health Counseling, National Guild of Hypnotists, Advanced Certified Hypnotherapist, and Master Hypnotherapist by the Hypnodyne Foundation in 1988.

Joyce was involved in local and state politics for over 40 years; mainly with the Seneca Falls Town Democratic Committee where she was the Chairperson for many years, as well as her involvement with the Seneca County Democratic Committee and the State Democratic Rural Conference.

Joyce enjoyed running with her husband for many years and after winning many trophies and metals, walking and swimming. She enjoyed traveling, fishing, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, RV camping, cooking, gardening, her flower garden, and most importantly her family and extended family. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren are the best! She was known as vivacious and enthusiastic, a loyal friend with a strong love of Church, friends and family. She loved to help others. She played the piano for many years and then played the keyboard with the Keyboarders of Venture Out Resort in Cudjoe Key, Florida. She was a proud Den Mother and Girl Scout for Troop 88 in Seneca Falls. She sang with the Seneca Community Singers for a short time but had to retire to give more time to her family.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Francis D. Brady of Seneca Falls, NY; sons, Daniel John Brady of Huntington Beach, CA and Jeffery Francis (Beth) Brady of Raleigh NC; granddaughters, Lauren, Kathleen, and Colleen Brady; grandson, Orion Hunter Brady; several nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law, Judy Buck of FL. In addition to her parents, Joyce was predeceased by her sister, Joan Reese, 2 brothers, Clarence Jr. and Richard Reese, and stepbrother, Duane Buck.