Comments on: Joyce Linton: The Lady with the Voice

By: Beth Santini

Beth Santini — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 07:08:45 +0000

Oh my gosh Nora if you have a tape of Joyce singing, I would love to have a copy. Joyce sang “Ave Maria”, “Panis Angelicus” and “What have I rendered to my Lord” as well as “Gallway Bay” at my wedding. Her voice was beyond description. For the last two years I spent Christmas Eve in Naas, Ireland where Celine Byrne sang “O Holy Night” she is on youtube. her voice and passion remind me of Joyce. If you can uplaod the tapes to youtube that would be great.

By: Beth Santini

Beth Santini — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 07:12:00 +0000

Nora, I too cannot believe a year has gone by since Joyce passed. I often find myself about to call her and get her sage advice. Joyce and I were friends from 7th grade on, she added so much dimension to my life. I am sorry for the loss you have experienced. Like you, I miss my good friend so very much, Beth

By: NoraLee Montemarano

NoraLee Montemarano — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:54:56 +0000

Can’t believe it has been a year, already. Thank you for this stirring tribute. I find myself listening to a tape of Joyce (with Valerie K) singing at St. Anne’s. Both Joyce and the church are gone. I am sure Joyce has had a chance to spend time with the REAL St. Anne in the interim. She was a devotee of the saint, as evidenced by the multiple St. Anne “biographies” and novena booklets she left behind. Lucky saint, getting serenaded by Joyce. It’s a picture I carry within myself today, as I am STILL waiting for an open day on the Holy Innocents’ Mass calendar to have a mass said for Joyce. As soon as the 2012 calendar opens, I shall not be remiss in claiming January 3rd for a memorial.

Best to all in the new year. Joyce, I miss you every single day. You are in my prayers.

By: Beth Santini

Beth Santini — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:14:57 +0000

My very good friend Joyce passed away on January 3rd ,2010 after a long and valiant battle with cancer. ( I learned of her last battle while I was in Ireland visiting my son Christopher for Christmas. ) Joyce fell in her classroom on Dec.9th and fractured her pelvis. But instead of going to the doctor, she went back to school and completed her lesson plans and then went to a party! A few days later she was persuaded to go to the doctor who immediately called an ambulance. After that her condition continued to deteriorate. I learned about all of this while visiting my son Chris in Ireland and when I got back to NY I changed my flights so that I could visit her in the Hospital on the 2nd and 3rd of January (a few hours before she died.) She had a peaceful death. Her wake and burial Mass in New York were quite amazing. She had so many diverse groups of friends and relatives and yet made everyone feel quite singular. People from her oratorio society, opera group, water aerobics group, movie group, american ballet, latin tridentine mass group, school faculty and students as well as other family (many cousins) and friends were there to celebrate her life. Kathy McShane, Greg and Heather,Santini. Elizabeth and Eileen Myles (SHA) and Karen Kearns and I along with Danny and Jean Morelli, Richard Snyder( Joyce’s former Garden City next door neighbor) and Joyce’s cousins Kathy, Ed , Nona etc and friends celebrated her memory. Richard gave a beautiful eulogy. Joyce taught Latin. English and Music at the High School of Mathematics and Science in Harlem, NY. Some of you saw her at Sally’s Mass, she was quite ill at the time but took the day off from school to come to Sally’s funeral. Joyce made every effort to be there for every significant event in my life. She was my very best friend. We spent a summer together in Italy that I will never forget but nothing can my good friend Joyce. I will miss my friend and all her charming eccentricities.

By: Maureen Gallagher Sweeney

Maureen Gallagher Sweeney — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:43:27 +0000

I join with those who are saddened to hear of Joyce’s passing. It has been many, many years since last we met but it seems she remained the same dear lady I so well remember.
Thank you for these beautiful words.
May she rest in peace.

By: Abigail Palmer

Abigail Palmer — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:06:19 +0000

I am also saddened to hear of Joyce’s passing. All the way from the West Coast, we had heard that she was rallying and doing well, and I was happy for her. For all of the reasons that you have listed above, I was also not surprised that, for a short while, it seemed that she had cancer “beat”- that would be her way.
What a generous soul- we will remember her in our prayers. Thank you for this tribute.

By: Mureen Flanagan

Mureen Flanagan — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:20:54 +0000

I went to high school with (Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead) and I was online today trying to search for her when this RIP came up in Google. She was always as you describe her – a fiesty woman with a great heart. I am sorry that I missed catching up with her, but so glad that she had so many wonderful friends.

Blessings to all,
Maureen McNamara Flanagan

By: Jennifer Roche

Jennifer Roche — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:59:46 +0000

I would like to join the chorus of those who remembered Joyce. Thank you to Andrew for such a fine portrait. My heart sunk when I heard the news; I hadn’t realized she was so ill. First Walter, then Joyce…this life is short, eternity is long. May she rest in peace, and may we all Keep the Faith and join her in that eternal rest.

In the Sacred Heart of Our Lord– that mysterious Love who upholds us all in times of sorrow!

Jennifer Roche

By: Turgonian

Turgonian — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:50:35 +0000

A fine post, Mr. Cusack. Allow me to express my sympathies for your loss and the loss of all of Joyce’s friends.

By: Alex Sepkus

Alex Sepkus — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:20:16 +0000

Dear Mr. Cusack,

Many thanks for writing this beautiful tribute for Joyce. She was so properly named.