Obituary of Joyce Lois Alexander

Joyce Lois Alexander, a devoted mother, and grandmother and cherished by all who knew her, passed away peacefully on October 16, 2025, at the age of 81 with her three children by her side. Born on January 29, 1944 in Queens, NY, Joyce was the loving daughter of the late Charles and Lois Hafner Newfield and sister to the late Lynne Byron who she shared a bond with like no other.  She brought joy and warmth to the lives of all who knew her and will be deeply missed.

Joyce’s life was marked by her dedication to her family, her career, and her church. She was the beloved wife of Eugene “Gene” R. Alexander (deceased), and together they raised three children: Eugene, Jr. of Convent Station, NJ, Jennifer Vessecchia of Chatham, NJ and Megan Molique of Richmond, Virginia.  Joyce was the proud grandmother to seven grandchildren, Devon, Noelle, Luca, Marco, Jude, Ethan, and Riley. who were the light of her life.

Joyce’s family was the cornerstone of her world, and there was nothing that she would not do for them. Anyone who knew her, knew she was the most selfless person they had ever met, putting anyone’s needs before her own and always with a smile. She had a heart of gold and a smile that was contagious.

She was a lifelong resident of Madison, NJ where she and Gene raised their three children and made many lifelong friends. She loved Madison and always felt so honored to have been part of its community. She was a devoted parishioner of Grace Church and enjoyed assisting in early morning coffee hours and the knitting group where she knitted blankets for babies.

Joyce was the paralegal/office manager of her late husband’s law firm. She was the glue that held the firm together and her work ethic earned the respect and admiration of colleagues, the clients they served and her children who learned from her that hard work pays off. She always said she had the best of both worlds.
 

Joyce was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Children of the Mayflower.

Joyce’s interests were as varied as they were heartfelt. An enthusiastic Met Fan, she never missed watching a game and would rewatch the 1986 Mets World Series any chance she got! She relished the times watching all her grandchildren play in their sports or music events but more than anything she adored them and just enjoyed spending time with them. She enjoyed going to movies, reading books, and taking her grandchildren to Friendly’s ice cream. She loved traveling the world and cherished her trips to Italy and Egypt with Gene and family vacations to Wildwood Crest, NJ, and Disney World. She cherished her times with her close friends, especially Thelma and Marilyn.

Above all, Joyce was a giving soul, always thinking of others. Her strong sense of family, community and her generous spirit will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Joyce’s life was a beautiful tapestry woven with love, service, and the joy of meaningful connections. Her memory will be treasured forever as a guiding light of compassion and kindness.

A Service to Celebrate the Life of Joyce will be held on Saturday, December 13^th at 11 a.m. at Grace Church, 4 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ. Internment shall take place immediately after at the Grace Church Columbarium on the church grounds. Friends and family are all welcomed to celebrate her life with a reception to follow at Grace Church.

In lieu of flowers, the Alexander family kindly requests that donations be made in Joyce's memory to the Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps ( madisonems.org/donate).

Arrangements are under the care of Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, Madison, NJ.