Joyce A. Rinaldi, loving Wife, Mother, and Grandmother, passed away on Sunday, March 27th, with her three daughters by her side.
Originally from Scranton, PA, Joyce received her nursing degree and began her career at Community Medical Center, Scranton. She and her husband, Vince Rinaldi, moved to Endwell in December 1977, where they quickly found a community of friends who would become family over many years. After taking time off to raise her girls, Joyce went back to work as the much beloved school nurse at Homer Brink Elementary School, where she spent 13 years taking care of so many. That care ranged from the removal of a multitude of splinters (that playground!) to giving breathing treatments and insulin injections, or often just providing a hug and an all-healing ice pack. “Mrs. Rinaldi” was always recognized and remembered by her former students around town. Her Homer Brink days also resulted in strong friendships with her colleagues that would last through retirement to her final days. She always looked forward to her lunches and dinners with the ladies from Homer Brink.
Joyce was predeceased by her parents, her husband of nearly 43 years, Vincent Rinaldi, and her brothers Thomas Walsh and James (Nancy) Walsh, as well as her brother-in-law Bill (Joan) Rinaldi.
She is survived and will be dearly missed by her children, Ellen Rinaldi (Esperance, NY), Kate (Dave) Trosch (McLean, VA), and Jan (Adam) McCauley (Endwell, NY). Joyce was never happier than when she got to spend time with her grandchildren, Corinne and Will Trosch and Lily and Kate McCauley. She is also survived by her sister, Joan Walsh Rowland of Tucson, Arizona, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Sam and Jane (Rinaldi) Pane of Dunmore, PA, many beloved nieces, nephews, their spouses and their children. She will be remembered and missed by many lifelong friends from her times in Scranton and in Endwell.
Joyce was always up for an adventure, a shopping trip with her sister-in-law and friend, Jane, or a visit to Tucson to enjoy the warm weather and time with her sister, Joan. She was an avid reader and enjoyed playing word games and Mexican train dominoes with her friends at Reynolds Pointe Apartments, where she lived her final years.
Joyce was an active member of the Church of the Holy Family until the pandemic and her health constrained her ability to serve as a Eucharistic Minister and to attend masses. She always enjoyed helping out at the Lenten Fish Dinners, with the funeral luncheon ministry, and serving food at the Bazaar. Her outgoing and friendly nature, easy smile and contagious laugh will be remembered right along with her sarcastic sense of humor and the “mom” look that kept us all eager to stay on her good side and always kept us laughing right to the end.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11am on Friday April 1, 2022 at Church of the Holy Family 3600 Phyllis St Endwell, NY 13760. Visitation will be held from 10am until the time of the mass at 11am.
Joyce’s family would like to thank the staff and caregivers of Lourdes Hospice and Mercy House of the Southern Tier for their compassionate care in her last months and days. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial contributions in Joyce’s name to either of these organizations.