Joyce Bowen ... known as 'nice lunch lady' at RMS; at 64

ROCHESTER - Joyce A. Bowen, 64, died peacefully with her daughter by her side on Jan. 10, 2024, after a period of failing health.

Born on Sept. 14, 1959, in Groton, Conn., Joyce was the daughter of the late Anthony and Dorothy Lavrich. At a young age, her family relocated to her mother's hometown of Dover, where she spent the rest of her childhood. A self-proclaimed wild child, Joyce had many adventures until she suffered from a sudden brain aneurysm at age 19. She was in a coma for eight days and had to relearn how to walk and talk. It was a true wake up call and she wasn't shy to tell people it made her not afraid of death. She described her near-death experience as "peaceful" and said that she knew she would be okay when it was her time.

Joyce married her husband Brian Bowen on Dec. 7th, 1984, after meeting as coworkers at IMC. A fellow coworker described them as "one of the most in love couples [she] had ever met." After being told she could not have children, her "miracle child" Sarah Patricia was born in 1989. Sarah was her world and Joyce loved being a stay-at-home mom until Sarah started school. For over 20 years, Joyce worked in the cafeteria at Rochester Middle School. She took great pride in being the "nice lunch lady" and was delighted anytime she ran into students.

Anyone who met Joyce knew what a loving, kind heart she had. She was almost always in a cheerful mood, smiling, and willing to go along with anything. She was well known for her catchphrases - "cool potatoes", "you know what I mean, jelly bean?, "sounds good to your Joyce," and calling absolutely everyone sweetie/honey bun.

Joyce is survived by her loving husband of 39 years Brian Bowen, her daughter Sarah and son-in-law William Hughes, her brother Anthony Lavrich, sisters Johanna Garneau and Dolores Roberts, sister-in-spirit Lisa Hampe, two step-grandsons, seven brothers and sisters-in-law, six nieces, two nephews, and many great-nieces and nephews.