Joyce Lynn Gavitt

PORTLAND – Joyce L. Gavitt, 68, of Portland, went home to be with the Lord on May 24, 2021, at Maine Medical Center surrounded by family, following a brief illness.

She was born on August 14, 1952, in Lewiston, daughter of Albert and Carmen (Roux) Delekto. Joyce graduated from Edward Little High School in 1970 and attended the University of Southern Maine, graduating in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

She married her high school sweetheart, Stanton W. Gavitt Jr., on Sept. 6, 1975, and they had two children. She worked for numerous years in the Portland school system until her retirement in 2018. Joyce enjoyed gardening, reading, the ocean, the sun, going out “t-weet”, and spending time with her family, especially her two grandchildren. Joyce was a self-proclaimed QVC Queen.

She was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Carleen Bowie and her beloved uncle, Real.

She leaves behind her husband of 46 years; a daughter, Sarah L. Douglas (Sterling) of Cumberland, a son, David S. Gavitt (Colleen Mulcahy) of Portland; two grandchildren, Bentley and Talia Douglas; a brother, Carl Delekto (Anita) of Oxford, a sister, Nancy Simard of Wells; along with numerous cousins; nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 28 at Jones, Rich and Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. in Portland.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 29 at the Community of Grace Church, 355 Bridgton Rd. in Westbrook. A private burial will be held Tuesday, June 1 in Lewiston.

Please visit http://www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to sign Joyce’s online guest book.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the BIDMC Transplant Surgery Research Fund at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at http://www.bidmc.org/givenow or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at http://www.stjude.org/donatetoday.