Joyce Mary Kelly

Joyce Mary Kelly
January 7, 1948 – March 4, 2013
Joyce Kelly, 65, of Cost Mesa died peacefully at Hoag Memorial Hospital after a long struggle with an autoimmune disease on Monday, March 4, 2013. Her husband, Bob, and her daughters, Laurie and Suzann, were present at her bedside when she passed.
Joyce was born and raised in North Hollywood, California by Clarence and Bethel Purcell. She had an older sister, Jean Purcell McCulley, who passed five years ago. Joyce and her family spent many summers vacationing in Newport Beach, and she often felt herself as a resident of Newport-Mesa as well as North Hollywood. She graduated from North Hollywood High School. She worked in Los Angeles for several years as a ski instructor, for Capital Records, for Budget rental car agency where she was in local commercials, and as a tour guide.
She became an official resident of Newport Beach in 1971. Her daughters attended Newport Heights Elementary, Ensign Intermediate and Newport Harbor High School. She was active in the Newport Heights community for many years and worked for a medical practice in Newport Town Center for fifteen years until she contracted her disease sixteen years ago. Her husband, Bob, was a teacher at Newport Heights Elementary for 41 years and recently retired to become a caregiver for his beloved wife.
Joyce’s smile, laughter and zest for life were infectious. She was loved and cherished by all who knew her whatever their age from infant to senior citizen. Many a young person thought of her as a second mother and many in her age group considered her a sister. She befriended all she knew and always treated others with respect and love. Even when her disease was ravaging her body resulting in many major surgeries, she seldom complained and never allowed it to limit her spark and love of life.
She was an accomplished wind surfer and ballroom dancer prior to contracting her disease. Joyce enjoyed traveling with her husband and was fortunate to have traveled extensively throughout the United States, parts of Canada and Mexico, the Caribbean, and overseas to London, Paris, Belgium, Southern France and Monte Carlo.
Joyce’s greatest pleasure was her grandchildren: Emilie, Kelly Jo, Moriah, Josephine, Matthew and Nicholas. She always celebrated their birthdays, remembered them on all holidays, and cherished their stories. She was the ideal grandmother.
Joyce is also survived by her husband, Bob; her daughters Laurie Kelly Bishop (John); and Suzann Kelly Davis (Mike): her stepson Kevin Kelly (Amor); and her niece Shannon McCulley Brenkwitz (Mike); She also leaves behind many in-laws in the Kelly and McCulley clans who will greatly miss her and feel their lives have been wonderfully enriched by having her as a sister-in-law/relative.
Her family and friends will hold a celebration of her life on March 20. In lieu of flowers please make donations in her name to the Newport Heights Sixth Grade Camp Scholarship Fund, to the Hoag Memorial Hospital Fund, or the Environmental Nature Center.