Obituary of Joyce A. Miller
Joyce A. (Schaal) Miller, 77, of Salem, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 13, 2026. She was the beloved widow of David A. Miller.
Born in Hartford, Joyce was the daughter of the late William and Helen (Kozak) Schaal. She graduated from Northwest Catholic High School and went on to earn a scholarship to the renowned Mount Sinai School of Nursing, where she received her nursing degree.
Joyce devoted her professional life to nursing, beginning her career in 1970, and serving for decades as a Registered Nurse at Hartford Hospital. Her long career was marked by extraordinary dedication, skill, compassion, and heart. Over the years, she formed countless connections with colleagues, patients, and families who were touched by her care.
Joyce was not only a skilled and compassionate nurse, but also a fearless advocate for patient care. She spoke up without hesitation when it came to their care and dignity, often reminding those around her that “the patient comes first.” That guiding belief defined her career and earned her the deep respect of those who had the privilege of working alongside her and being cared for by her.
To know Joyce was to know laughter, friendship, and a life lived with boundless joy. She was vibrant, hilarious, and her humor was fearless, quick, and unforgettable. Her personality could fill a room, often leaving people laughing “in stitches.” She was a firecracker, wonderfully social, and blessed with the rare ability to make people feel immediately at ease in her presence.
Joyce and her beloved husband David formerly lived in Glastonbury, where they built a life filled with love, laughter, and lasting friendships. She remained deeply connected to the many friends she made there, as well as those she gathered throughout her life. Joyce collected people easily and those friendships became one of the great treasures of her life.
Joyce loved fishing and the ocean, especially the time she spent there with David. Summer vacations in Rhode Island held a special place in her heart, beginning with family trips during her childhood and continuing through the years with her own children and grandsons. Those days by the water were filled with sunshine, silliness, snacks, and the kind of memories that become family stories for generations.
Above all, her greatest love was her family.
Joyce was the devoted mother of her twin daughters, Allyson Nadeau (fiancé William Stamm) and Rebecca Delaney, with whom she shared an especially close and loving bond. She was also a devoted stepmother to Bethany and David Miller and shared a particularly close bond with her stepson Stephen Miller (Courtney Miller).
She was the adored grandmother, known lovingly as “Meema,” to her twin grandsons Colby and Sawyer, as well as Jordan, Colton, Sloane, and Callan, with another grandchild on the way. Her grandchildren were a tremendous source of joy and pride.
Joyce is also survived by her brother, William Schaal, Jr. and his wife, Diane, along with many extended family members, nieces, nephews, neighbors, and dear friends. She was predeceased by her brother Daniel Schaal.
There will never be another Joyce. Her family and friends will miss her humor, her stories, her warmth, and the unmistakable spark she brought into every room she entered. But a woman so deeply loved does not leave the world quietly. She lives on in the laughter she sparked, the friendships she nurtured, the family she adored, and the countless lives she touched through a lifetime of care, courage, compassion, and humor.
Joyce’s family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the extraordinary staff at Manchester Manor and the Hartford HealthCare Hospice team for the kindness, compassion, and loving care they gave Joyce. Their tenderness and support brought comfort not only to Joyce, but also to her family, and will always be remembered with profound gratitude.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at a later date at Guardian Angels Parish/St. Andrew Church, 128 Norwich Ave., Colchester. There are no calling hours. For online condolences, please visit www.mulryanfh.com.
In her honor, her family hopes Joyce will be remembered as she would surely prefer - with love, with gratitude for a life well lived, and, most of all, with laughter.
As Joyce herself would always say, “Ya gotta laugh!”