Angela Bennis Joyce

Angela Bennis Joyce, “Babe” to her family and friends, a beloved healer and tireless advocate for maternal health, died peacefully on February 28, 2025, in Ukiah, California of natural causes. She was 90. A registered nurse for over 50 years, specializing in obstetrics and maternal nutrition, Angela was a life-long advocate for mothers and babies, a certified nutritional counselor, lactation consultant, and a trained "doula" who saw to the emotional and physical comfort of mothers to be. 

She delivered many babies throughout her career, including two of her grandchildren, who were born at home with her guidance. One of her greatest joys, which she rarely mentioned, were 11 newborn babies named after her. Angela was born April 17, 1934, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Lucy McNamee Bennis and Arthur T. Bennis; she was one of four siblings. After she graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, N.J., in 1952, she earned a nursing degree from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Paterson, N.J., where she met her future husband. In 1956, Angela married Robert F. Joyce of West Paterson, N.J., an Air Force pilot. By the time she was 30, Angela had given birth to seven children as the family was posted around the world and the United States during Bob’s service to the country in the Air Force. 

She returned to nursing full-time in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, where the family settled after Bob left military service. All of her children graduated from Foxcroft Academy. 

As head nurse of obstetrics at Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft in the 1980s, Angela was a pioneer in bringing modern labor and delivery practices to mothers of Central Maine, while leading in-service training for OB nurses around the state. She was also pivotal in establishing protocols for stabilizing premature babies before they were transferred to specialized medical centers.

When her children were fully grown, she and Bob moved to Coronado, California, where Angela again answered the call of OB nursing to serve at Naval Medical Center in nearby San Diego.

During their retirement years in California, she enjoyed flying with Bob, and took flying lessons. She and Bob enjoyed sailing on San Diego Bay on their 24-foot keelboat. She remained active in promoting nutrition and maternal health in Coronado.

Angela and Bob later moved to Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where she was an active member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, and took care of Bob in his later years. 

After the Covid pandemic, Angela returned to California to live in Ukiah with loving support of her eldest son Mark and his wife Gloria, assisted by the devoted staff of Holy Spirit Residential Care Home, and her beloved companion and nurse, Chrystal Harden.

Angela was preceded in death by Bob, husband of nearly 50 years; his siblings and their spouses; her parents Lucy and Arthur; sister Jane Billings; sister Moira Brown; and niece Moira Brown the younger.

She is survived by her brother Leo Bennis and his three children; her seven children and their spouses: Mark Joyce (Gloria) of Ukiah; David Joyce (Lorna) of Brookline, NH; Daniel Joyce (Gail) of Fairfax, VA; Jennifer Stuckey (Michael) of Ottsville, PA; Erin Joyce of Alexandria, VA; Christopher Joyce (Laurie) of Pensacola, FL; Patrick Joyce (Michelle) of Veazie, ME; 15 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren, and many doting nieces and nephews. 

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Eversole Mortuary in Ukiah. Visitation is scheduled for 6-8 PM on Ash Wednesday, March 5, at Eversole. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 1 PM on Thursday, March 6, at Saint Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in Ukiah with a reception to follow. As a career Air Force wife, she will be interred at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery next to her husband.