Joyce (Billado) Howard

ENOSBURG FALLS - Joyce (Billado) Howard, age 53, passed away Monday May 12, 2008 after a brave and courageous battle with a brain tumor, lung cancer and adrenal gland cancer at the Franklin County Rehab Facility in St. Albans with her loving family at her side. Joyce never complained about her illness and was determined to beat her illness.

She was born in St. Albans on October 20, 1954, the daughter of Velma (LaFrance) Billado and the late Robert Billado Sr.

Joyce was most recently employed at Paradise Pools & Spas in St. Albans. She had to retire due to poor health. She was previously employed as a manager at the Crossroads in Waterbury for many years and Enosburg Mobil as manager for 8 years. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post # 12 in Richford.

Joyce was a caring, gentle, kind hearted person and always put others before herself. She put her fears and concerns aside, being more concerned with her mother-in-laws illness as they were both battling cancer. That was the type of person Joyce was. She loved her cats especially her favorite, Tom Tom . Most of all she loved to spend time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed flowers, lawn sales, gambling trips to Atlantic City, and take outs with her Mom.

She is survived by her husband and soul mate, John Howard of Enosburg Falls. They were married October 27, 2006 after re-meeting at the wedding of Johns sister Donna (Howard) & Glenn Deming on August 19, 2006. She is also survived by her mother, Velma Billado of Richford; her son, Raymond McCuen and his fianc Jen Griffen of Barre; her daughter, Traci Murray of Bakersfield; her grandchildren, Emmi Clark, David Murray, and Raymond McCuen Jr., Brandon & Josh Connelly; her brothers, Robert Billado Jr. of Richford, Jeffrey Billado and his fianc Amy Laroche of Enosburg Falls, and Ricky Billado of Richford; her sisters, Carolyn Cooper and her husband John of Enosburg Falls, Connie Barton and her husband William of Goldsboro, NC, Susan Rice of Marietta, GA, Ruth Ann Cooper and her husband Frederick Sr. of Franklin, Doreen Corey and her husband Ernest of Franklin, and Tammy Gendron and her husband James of Richford; her brother-in-law, Arnold Lagro of Franklin; her sisters-in-law, Connie McEnany and her husband David of Sheldon, Lisa Howard and her partner Roger Robitaille of Enosburg, and Donna Deming and her husband Glenn of Enosburg; and brother-in-law, Ronald Howard and his partner Linda OConnell of Montgomery Center; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Robert Billado Sr.; grandson, Casey; sister, Diana Lagrow; nephew, John Cooper Jr., and mother-in-law, Dorothy Howard.

Funeral services will be held Friday morning May 16, 2008 at 11:00 at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls. Interment will follow in the Missisquoi Cemetery in Enosburg Falls.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday from 2-4 & 7-9 at the Spears Funeral Home in Enosburg Falls.

For those who wish, contributions in Joyces memory may be made to the Franklin County Humane Society, 30 Sunset Meadows, St. Albans, VT 05478 or to the Vermont Cancer Research Center, E213 89 Beaumont Ave., Burlington, VT 05405

Joyces family wishes to thank the staff at the Franklin County Rehab Facility, Northwestern Medical Center and the Vermont Cancer Center especially Shelley for the loving care and concern given to Joyce over the last several months.