Joyce Wanda Tota, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and lifelong educator, peacefully passed away on Monday, July 24, 2023, at the age of 77 in Barre, Vermont.

Joyce was born in Brooklyn, NY to John and Marie Merenda. The youngest of three girls, Joyce grew up on Long Island, graduated from Notre Dame College in Baltimore, MD, and moved back to Long Island where she met the love of her life and husband of 55 years, Joseph "Jay" Tota. She was a teacher, passionate reader and committed wife and mother to five wonderful children and grandmother to eleven.

On June 10, 1966, Joyce married Jay and their happy life journey began together. They raised their first four children in Port Washington, NY then moved to Ridgewood, NJ to raise their youngest daughter, Noelle. Joyce and Jay loved Ridgewood and spending their summers at the lake and ocean. Later in life, they moved to Hilton Head Island, SC where Joyce enjoyed rounds of golf with Jay, walking the beaches and playing a spirited game of Mahjong regularly. On September 4, 2021, her beloved husband and best friend, Jay, passed away and Joyce relocated to Vermont to be closer to her children and grandchildren as she grieved her loss.

Joyce loved being a wife, a mom, and a grandmother. While she taught different grade levels over the years, her best teaching was always reserved for her five children, their spouses, and kids. Her honest opinions, decorating ideas and carefree spirit will be missed by all.

Joyce is survived by her five children; Christopher Tota and wife Melissa, and their children, Grace and James of Nashville, TN; Joyce Baldwin and husband, Matt, and their children, Madeline, Mikaela, and McKenna, of Redding, CT; Jon Tota and wife Amy, and their children, Dash, Ty, and Grey, of Shelburne, VT; Lauren Farley and husband, Rob, and their children, Sean, Luke, and Will of Aurora, IL; and Noelle Tota of Boston, MA. She is also survived by her two sisters, Arlene Zachmann of Miami, FL and Carole Ciaio of Pittsburgh, PA.

A private service will be held to honor Joyce's memory.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Joyce's name to the PKD Foundation, a cause she held dear, at:

https://support.pkdcure.org/joycetota