Joyce A. Teal

Sebastian, FL.- Joyce A. Catlin Teal, 83, of Mango Ave. and a lifelong resident of Oak Hill Road in Sand Lake, passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Joyce died peacefully with loved ones by her side at the Victory Landing Assisted Living and Memory Care in Melbourne, FL.

Joyce was born at home in Poestenkill on March 5, 1940, and was the daughter to Sanford and Elizabeth Wendell Catlin. She was the loving wife of Eugene A. Teal for 66 years with whom she shared four children.  Joyce grew up in Poestenkill and was educated in the Averill Park Schools. She stayed home to raise and support her four children during the early years of their lives.  Once her children reached school age, she began working for the Averill Park Schools as a bus driver where she transported students to and from school and extracurricular events. Joyce began to work as a realtor with Century 21 in November of 1979, where she spent the next several years working to help people find their forever homes, including some of her own children. Joyce truly found her calling when she became the Sand Lake Town Clerk in 1980 and went on to maintain that title for 14 years.

Joyce and Gene spent several winters in Florida before becoming full-time residents of Sebastian twenty years ago. They would spend summers in Sand Lake, always referred to as “Home,” where they created cherished memories with their family and doted on their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Joyce was a lifelong and active member of Zion’s UCC in Taborton. She spent many years working as the Treasurer for the Church, participating as a member of the Women’s Guild, and could be found most Sunday’s singing her heart out with the Church choir.  

Joyce was a strong woman who always spoke her mind and stood up for those less fortunate. She enjoyed participating in witty banter with her friends and family, and if she wasn’t on her porch in her rocking chair with a book in her hand, she could be found sitting in front of the TV cheering on her favorite NASCAR driver. Her strength and dignity were her most admirable qualities, as she spent most of her life remaining loyal to her beliefs and teaching her family to do the same. Above all else, Joyce was committed to her family. She was extremely proud of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and enjoyed spending as much time with them as she could. She will be greatly missed by those around her, especially by her close relatives.

Survivors include her devoted children Robin (Mark) O’Brien, Jami (Charles) Wachtel, Lori Ann (James) Shelgren and Darin (Angela) Teal, 9 loved grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Joyce was the sister of Donna (late Kenneth) Yerden, Sandra (John) Kenyon, Vincent (Sue) Catlin, David (Virginia) Catlin and the late Stuart (Sharon) Catlin.

A celebration to honor Joyce’s life will be held at Zion’s UCC of Taborton, 741 Taborton Road, Sand Lake, NY 12153 on Saturday, June 17^th.  Family and friends are invited to her calling hour from 10 am – 11 am followed by a service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joyce’s memory to Zion’s UCC of Taborton, 741 Taborton Road, Sand Lake, NY 12153 or The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208.

Visit www.perry-komdat.com for a private guestbook.