APPLETON — Joyce A. Sweetland, 80, of Appleton, went to her Lord and Savior on Feb. 16, 2017, at Tall Pines. Joyce was born the second child of Elmer and Hattie (Esancy) Davis.

She was educated thru primary schools in Montville and graduated from Liberty High School, and also received her certified nursing assistant certificate from Waldo County Vocational School. Growing up, Joyce loved to attend to her brother, Roland, and go dancing with Chet, during which she once won a trip to New York.

She met her love and life partner, Paul E. Sweetland Sr., and married him on Feb. 27, 1954. They raised seven children on the family farm: Phillip, Karen, Charlie, Paul Jr., Elmer, Brenda and Elizabeth.

Joyce was active thru her life with the Odd Fellows Lodge of Appleton, thru her husband Paul, and the Rebekah's, where they received a lifetime achievement award for their work with Camp NEOFA, as well her time and dedication to the Burketville Grange and her service to the Liberty AMVETS. Joyce loved to read - she would spend many hours at the Appleton and Searsmont libraries. Joyce could always be found either with knitting needles in hand or a good book, that is until her grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along, at which time she passed her love of reading to them. Joyce loved to knit mittens for family and friends for the holidays. She also had a vast knowledge of NASCAR and attended her very first race in Loudon, N.H., in 2001.

After earning her diploma, she went to work for many years at Waldo Shoe in Belfast. Additionally she would volunteer as a ballot collect for the town of Appleton during election time. In her later years she was customer service associate at Hannafords Supermarket in Belfast until her retirement in 2009. While working, she would spend a lot of time with great-grandchildren teaching them how to read and to learn, as she was always full of new things to teach them.

For fun, Joyce could be found driving with her sister, Charlene, or playing cards with her husband, Paul, and Bill and Lucile Gorham, or dancing at the 10-4 Diner with her husband, and Barbara and Charlie Jewell. She would take weekend getaways with Marion Hanscome on a whim and spend many Grange nights with her good friend, Lili.

After her husband passed in 1998, she was able to keep living on the family homestead due to the assistance of family, her grandchildren, and her special grandson-in-law, Stevie Gilman.

Joyce was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Roland Davis; her daughter, Karen E Winchenbach; her son-in-law, Robert Edgecombe; and her husband of 44 years, Paul E. Sweetland Sr.

She is survived by her children, Phillip and Loretta Sweetland of Appleton, Charles and Melody Sweetland of Montville, Paul Jr. and Katie Sweetland of Searsmont, Elmer Sweetland Sr. of Searsmont, Brenda and Bo Spaulding of Montville, and Elizabeth Carter and Paul Winchenbach of Richmond; and her son-in-law, Gene Winchenbach of Appleton.
Joyce is also survived by her grandchildren, Tonya, Lisa, Larry Jr., Heidi, Gene, Chris, Tammy, Timmy, Paul III, James, Mary Meg, Elmer Jr,, Ricki, Ben, Roberta, Joyce, Hattie, Bo James, Chico and Marie; as well as 38 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m. at Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Ave. in Belfast, with a catered reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Joyce's name to the Appleton Village Library-Mildred Stevens Williams Library, 2916 Sennebec Road, Appleton, ME 04862.

Funeral services are under the arrangement of Riposta Funeral Home.