Obituary of Joyce T. Patterson

On October 8, 2022,  Joyce Torio Patterson, of Matamoras, PA, died of esophageal cancer at home. She was 81.  Joyce was born in 1941 to Regina “Jean” Benton and Dominic Torio, who raised her in Queens, New York. 

Joyce attended St. John’s University and earned a degree in education.  While a student, she worked several summers at Eddy Farm Hotel in Sparrowbush where she met ex-husband, Richard Patterson, father of her two daughters.

Joyce was an elementary school teacher for 32 years at the Anna S. Kuhl School in Port Jervis, NY where she was adored by multiple generations of students and where she earned many accolades.  One could walk by her classroom on any given day and Joyce would be telling her students “to shape up” and they would respond in unison with “or else we’ll ship out!”.  She was a tough but compassionate educator whose influence resonated with past pupils for a long time.  Former students and their parents would frequently approach her to thank her and to reminisce about “Mrs. Patterson’s class”.  Sometimes these meetings occurred years or even decades after they had been students in her classroom.

After retiring from teaching, Joyce was able to dedicate more of her time to her passion for golf at the Port Jervis Country Club.  She was renowned not only for her skills on the course but also for her impressive array of perfectly coordinated outfits she wore when playing (this would, naturally, include matching golf shoes).  Joyce also enjoyed zipping around town in her beloved Corvette convertible.  She loved Airedales, a good steak and baked potato, true crime books and singing along to her favorite songs, even when she didn’t actually know all the words.  

Joyce is survived by her long-time best friend/life-partner Sharon Major, her two daughters Tracy Patterson (Pierre-Yves Mabboux) of Arlington, MA and Kerry Patterson of Plainville, CT, grandchildren Eva Mabboux and Remy Mabboux and brother Thomas Torio and his wife, Cathy, of North Carolina.

A viewing will take place on Saturday 10/15/22 from 2 to 4:00 PM at the KNIGHT-AUCHMOODY Funeral Home 154 East Main Street Port Jervis, NY.  

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