Joyce E. Havlick

GARDNER - Joyce E. (Sherman) Havlick (88) of Gardner, died Wednesday, October 17, 2018 in the Baldwinville Nursing Home. She was born in Wolfeboro, NH, on March 24, 1930, the daughter of the late Albert E. and the late Hetty V. (Bowler) Sherman. Joyce grew up in the village of Baldwinville. She graduated from Templeton High School and was valedictorian of the Class of 1947. Following in her father’s footsteps, she was accepted to Boston University. For many years she enjoyed and worked at the Gardner News. Later she moved further east and fell in love with Boston. She worked at Harvard University Law School as a Financial Aid Officer for twenty years. In her free time, she enjoyed strolling through many interesting museums, especially her favorites, the Museum of Fine Art and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. She counted herself most fortunate to live next door to the ISGM where she had a pleasant view of the hot house flowers throughout the seasons. Gardening was her dream come true when she later discovered the Fenway Victory Gardens in Boston's Fenway neighborhood. Her proudest achievement was the many years she created and maintained outstanding designs in her flower gardens in her own section of the Fenway Victory Gardens. When she no longer could garden outdoors, she started a collection of many and varied thriving houseplants. Being a lover of the outdoors, Joyce enjoyed the long spring, summer, and sometimes, autumn weeks that were the rigour of Red Sox baseball. Later, as the Sox equipment was packed up to head for Florida, she made it her business to wave on the team trucks underneath her windows on Mass Ave. In reverse, she would be in the same spot, right on time when Spring and the Sox were on their way home. Upon thinking back, a nephew remembered that, “She was always surprised at the good fortune of Boston -so ensconced were New England fans that things would always, ultimately go afoul before the season ended.” A passionate reader, Joyce loved reading and would constantly haunt the Boston Public Library for new books. It was truly her second home. And she gave this love of reading to all her children and grandchildren. She loved to surprise and treat her children and grands to tea parties in the beautiful library courtyard. Among so many other gifts, Joyce could sew beautifully. She made her own lovely clothes and her children’s clothes for school and church. She was a skillful knitter. Her grandchildren all had unique sweaters made by her with surprise tags inside that read, “Made by Nana.” She enjoyed drawing, needlework, professional photography, writing short stories and poetry and short little illustrated stories for the little ones. Her unique cats often appeared on pages in many of these story books. She leaves three daughters, Kathleen Grandfield and her husband John of Summerland, California; Kerry Bettez and her husband Ernest of Gardner and Sharon Yavorosky of Gardner. The delight of Joyce’s life was her six grandchildren: Amoreena (Chris) Whalen of Wakefield, Amanda Grandfield of Lompoc, California, Katie Bettez (Andrew Ferreira) of Fitchburg, Benjamin (Dana) Bettez of South Portland, Maine, Frank (Marlesa) Yavorosky of Fitchburg and Jordan Yavorosky of Gardner. Her great grandchildren- Russell and Lucy Whalen of Wakefield and Max and Liam Bettez of South Portland. A brother and sister-in-law, Brian and Kelta Sherman, of Hobe Sound, Florida. She was predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law, Neil and Phyllis Sherman of Richmond, Vermont. A Celebration of Joy of Joyce’s life will be held in the Spring with her family. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in her memory to: Narragansett Historical Society Garden Fund, P.O. Box 354, Templeton, MA 01468; the Ahimsa Haven Animal Rescue, 381 Baldwinville Rd, Templeton, MA 01468; or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105. Mack Family Funeral Home – Lamoureux-Smith & Poliks Chapel, 105 Central St., Gardner is directing arrangements. To sign our online guest book please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com.