Joyce Anne Manchester

Joyce Manchester, beloved wife of Andrew (Jack) Manchester for 73 years, passed away in Hockessin on June 23, 2023 at the age of 93 after an extended illness.  Joyce was the eldest child of Grace (Toole) and Harold Cook and was raised in Schenectady, NY.  She was loving mother to two children, (David Manchester of Orland Park, IL) and the late Anne Denise Manchester, and her much-loved daughter-in-law, Anne Skipwith Manchester.  She was proud grandmother to Todd Manchester (Bethesda, MD) and Denise Williams (Western Springs, IL) and equally proud great-grandmother to 4: Molly & Andrew Manchester and Braydon & Kyle Williams. She was also so very gratified to include grand-daughter-in-law, Torie, and grand-son-in-law, Jeffrey, as part of her family.  She was predeceased by her brother, Harold Cook and by her daughter, Anne Denise Manchester.

Joyce was a trail-blazing student – graduating two years early from Nott Terrace High School (Schenectady, NY) and promptly becoming one of the first female undergraduates at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY.  It was there that she caught the eye of the immediately-smitten Jack Manchester.  They were married in January, 1950 and remained a much-admired couple for the next 73+ years.  Motherhood interrupted Joyce’s academic career, but she completed her undergraduate studies in Chemistry at the University of Delaware. Most of the ensuing years were spent as residents of New Castle County in Delaware, although they relocated to Walnut Creek, CA in 1961 for 5+ years when Jack was transferred there by Hercules, Inc.  By 1966, they had returned to Wilmington and bought a home in Anglesey, which they enjoyed for 48 years.  In recent years, they have lived in Hockessin.

Joyce was a member of the Hercules Country Club.  She was elected Treasurer of the Anglesey Civic Assn.  A proud member of the AAUW and P.E.O. and a docent at Winterthur, Joyce also was an active volunteer in her children’s schools and in Girl Scouts. She played the piano beautifully and loved to paint – particularly landscapes.  She delighted in a good comedy and was an avid reader.

Joyce particularly enjoyed her family time at their summer home on Lake George NY.  She selected the site with her parents in 1947 and participated in its design and construction throughout the years.  After Jack retired in 1987, they spent much of each of their summers there.

Known to be gracious and caring by all that knew her, Joyce was also known for her sense of humor and fast wit.   In recent years, friends of her son – who had previously lost their own parents – proudly “appropriated” Joyce and Jack as their surrogate parents.

Because she was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, she was being cared for in the Healthcare unit at Cokesbury Village.  The family wants to thank the staff – CNAs and Nurses – for the loving care that they gave Joyce.

In lieu of flowers, those that would like to make a donation in Joyce’s memory are asked to consider: “Alzheimer’s Disease Research”, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, P.O. Box 1950, Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950.  (web site: BrightFocus.org)