South Royalton, VT - Joyce Myrtle Roberts, 69, died Thursday morning, April 14, at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. She was born on July 13, 1946 in Hanover, NH the daughter of Leslie and Verna (Pretty) Ray. Joyce grew up in Quechee, VT and graduated from Hartford High School. Joyce lived in the White River Jct. and Quechee areas most of her childhood life, and then called South Royalton home. Her first husband was Wayne Alger, and she later she married Raymond W. Roberts.

Joyce was a hard-working woman who held many jobs over the years. As a young adult, she became a caregiver for the elderly. After moving to South Royalton, she worked several years at Vermont Castings in Royalton, VT assembling woodstoves, and then later as a certified private duty nurse again. She built a reputation as a kind-hearted and patient person who took care of many people throughout the Upper Valley region. Joyce also worked as a cashier at Tracy's Midway Station in Sharon, Vermont. It was a job she truly loved, as she met so many people in the community, who truly became her friends.

She enjoyed a good game of bingo, connecting with her friends on the internet, and spending time with her most beloved dog "Maizie". She loved adventure, and very much enjoyed going on road trips with her friends, sometimes even taking long ones by herself. She also enjoyed spending time at her favorite fishing hole underneath the South Royalton bridge, and was very at peace sitting quietly waiting for the fish to bite. She most looked forward to cooking for, and gathering around the dinner table, with her grandson, Nate, and his Fiancée, Kayla each and every week.


One of her most memorable events was fulfilling a life long wish to travel to Alaska, a dream she realized two years ago when her daughter and son-in-law took her on a cruise through the Alaskan Inside Passage.

Joyce is survived by her daughter Yvonne Driscoll and her husband, Michael of Windham, NH, two sons, Michael Alger of Hartford, VT, Douglas Alger and his wife, Carol, of Roanoke, VA, three step daughters, Vicki Vanderbeck of Oak Hill, NY, Tracy Downing of Corinth, VT, and Diana Perry of Corinth, VT, 16 grandchildren, several great grandchildren, two sisters, Kathy Brodeur of Lebanon, NH, and Leslie Ray of South Royalton, VT, as well as several nieces, nephews, and foster siblings, She was predeceased by her husband, parents, and sister, Linnie Burnham.

Calling hours will be held Tuesday evening, April 19, from 6-8PM at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct., VT. Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning, April 20, at 11AM at the funeral home. Please come ready to share a memory or story of Joyce.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Upper Valley Humane Society, 300 Old Route 10, Enfield, NH 03748 in honor of her love for Maizie, whom she adopted there.