Joyce Ann Mcgay

Joyce (Strickland) McGay was born on October 20, 1941 in Williamsburg, Virginia. She had a idealic childhood with her parents Stella (Janosky) and Robert Strickland in Astoria, New York. She grew up with her younger sister, Barbara (Guadarrama). They had an all American childhood growing up in New York City while her family also celebrated the importance of family customs and traditions. Their heritage came from their mother’s Polish and Hungarian roots and their father’s Irish and German background. All accented by their mother’s delicious southern cuisine.
They would spend their summers visiting their mother’s family in West Point, Virginia. Their arrival was always marked by the trunks that were sent ahead of time filled with their matching crinoline outfits which were beautifully hand sewn by their mother. Much to the chagrin of their cousins who would have to retrieve their huge trunks from the train station… it was a sure sign that the Yankees were on their way. They loved their summers in Virginia filled with fresh tomato sandwiches, the best fried chicken their Aunts could make and all the stories their Uncles would tell. Joyce’s curiosity started down in Virginia with adventures like waiting for ghost trains. She was always curious about the unknown and enjoyed investigating how all our worlds were connected. She always loved a good mystery.
As a youngster, she often loved to play tricks on her Uncle Harry who lived with them by switching salt into sugar bowls and sugar into salt shakers. She would change the cream filling of Oreo cookies with slices of Ivory soap. She was always the ring leader with her little sister was the only member of her mischievous gang. She was very inventive and would like to throw garden parties but would forget to tell her mother about her arriving guests. One of her most infamous parties and perhaps her last, involved a little girl in a fancy white dress whose mother could not pick her up right away. Joyce for some reason thought it was a good idea to show her the coal bin in the cellar of the house which mortified her mother as the little girl’s beautiful white dress showed evidence of each piece of coal she was newly introduced to.
She had a prolific imagination where her book reports where often books she invented herself, somehow her teachers never caught on and that was reflected by her always receiving an A or B.
As a teenager, she enjoyed all of the music that the 50’s/60’s provided along with whatever dances were the rage. Her home was filled with parties, laughter and good food. She was the champion of various limbo contests.
Joyce was always having FUN!
She met her future husband, John (Jack) McGay in the Hamptons, New York. Which lead to a wonderful marriage that lasted 41 years until his passing in 2006. Jack and Joyce settled in Ronkonkoma, New York where they raised their 4 daughters Jean, Caroline, Kathleen, Dawn.
Professionally, Joyce was a trained secretary and eventually became a registered nurse who spent most of her career at Kings Park Psychiatric Hospital.
Ultimately, she received her Masters Degree in Nursing Administration from Saint Joseph’s College.
Her four daughters married and produced six grandchildren whom she doted on. Autumn, Austin, Katie, John John, Hailey and Michael.
Joyce led a very active extracurricular life which centered around her home parish, Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Ronkonkoma, New York.
In her activities she became the Regent of Catholic Daughters of the Americas, a Columbiette, a Eucharist Minister and a voice for Right to Life.
Whenever asked what she was doing Joyce would always respond without missing a beat. She would giggle and say
“I’m havin’ FUN!”
Her motto was to always have Fun!! She focused on the positives and always faced challenges with a smile on her face. She loved to have parties and would dance the night away with all her family and friends. She enjoyed dancing the Polka especially with her mother, Stella. She loved to do crafts, read as well as play games. She always wanted people to feel included and to enjoy themselves. She found fun whether it was dancing in her dining seat to music in a restaurant or singing to songs in the car.
She loved to travel and saw the world, she never missed the opportunity to go on a trip.
She adored her grandchildren and looked forward to sharing all the holidays and celebrations with them. She was young at heart and would do all the activities the children would do. She would dance and go on the swings with John and get her nails done with Katie. Laugh and make “growing food” for Autumn and Austin or enjoyed playing the piano with Hailey and Michael. She would participate with all the children by waiting in line to smash the pinatas at the birthday parties. She enjoyed playing basketball as well as board games. She was a master scrabble player. She wanted to do whatever her grandchildren were doing. She loved to bowl and nothing would stop her from getting to a game to the point that she would bring baby playpens to set up in the lanes if she had to.
Joyce took advantage of living on Long Island especially for her love of the beach. Family folklore tells the story that nothing drove faster than Joyce on the way to make the ferry on time to get Fire Island. Stop signs and speed bumps be damned! This is remembered fondly by her children, nieces, nephews and childrens’ friends where the prize was a BLT sandwich when you got there, a day at the beach and a delicious ice cream cone as you waited for the return ferry home.
Joyce was always very inventive. During a blackout that was sparked by the famous Blizzard of 1978, the faint of heart would not have seen an easy route to the stores, Joyce did. Joyce’s solution was black, plastic construction grade bags and wooden sleds commanded by 4 little girls. A brisk walk through the snow banks for a mile and a half where the destination was King Kullen was one of her most clever feats and favorite story to tell.

One of Joyce’s most cherished accomplishments were her life long relationships with her friends that lasted over a span of seventy years. Joyce’s friends would say it was her fun sense of humor, generosity and kindness that made those relationships a success.

While not know as a pet lover as a child, it was ironic that one of her very first jobs as a secretary was at the American Kennel Club.She grew to love all the family pets which became inseparable to her.

During the holidays as a young adult one of her favorite annual things to do was to work at Macy’s in Herald Square for the Christmas season. She delighted in the decorations and the beauty of the traditions of NYC at Christmas time.
It was that same youthful exuberance that she carried on throughout her life. She knew we should enjoy everything in life that we possibly could. She knew as a woman of faith that we are be here on earth for only a temporary time. She always told her children “ When it is your time to go, it’s your time to go it doesn’t matter where you are” because we are not in charge.
She lived life to the fullest, enjoying her life along the way with the peaceful knowledge that her true reward would be in Heaven. Joyce passed peacefully and surrounded by love on July 18, 2022.
Joyce is predeceased by her beloved husband, John McGay. Her cherished sister Barbara, brother- in law George and her grand nephew Christian Gallante. She is survived by her four daughters and son-in -laws. Kathleen (Greg) Aliperti, Jean (Joe) Lazzaro, Caroline( Matt) Marple and Dawn( Scott) Heptig. As well as her grandchildren Katie and John John Aliperti, Autumn and Austin Marple and Hailey and Michael Heptig, as well as her nephew and nieces Robert, Virginia and Marie. Joyce was also very blessed to have many nieces and nephews on her husbands side. Diane, Teresa, Tommy, Donna, Kathy, Bernadette, John, Christine and her late nephew Michael.

As an alternative to flowers, the family would like to encourage donations to:

The Day Haven Adult Center in Ronkonkoma NY. 2210 Smithtown Avenue, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
www.dayhaven.org

Joyce called the Day Haven the FUN place.
Its proactive structure and interactive activities won a place as one of Joyce’s favorite places.

The kind staff and program create purposeful therapeutic activities with compassion and respectful recognition of the individual. Their therapy through play and mental stimulus with it’s inclusive practice was a highlight that enriched and extended Joyce’s life.

Donation brochures and envelopes will be available at the wake.