Joyce Virginia Lyons, 87 of Lutz, Florida passed away February 5th, 2025.
Joyce was born on October 5th, 1937 in Worcester, Massachusetts and moved to Florida in 1972 after the untimely death of her husband, Joseph Vigliatura, in 1969.
She is preceded in death by her 2nd husband Robert Lyons, father Wilburn White, mother Emily Ross, sister Kay Holloway, brother Wilburn White Jr. and daughter Jody Noble.
Joyce was a mother of 8 children. She was a very caring person who went out of her way to help animals and people who needed a helping hand. She rescued hundreds of cats and dogs in the Tampa area over the years and has helped friends of her children that needed a place to stay during challenging times.
Joyce’s professional journey began as a real estate broker at a young age in the 1960’s to opening businesses in the Tampa area.
She owned an Italian restaurant for many years and a furniture refinishing boutique. She, along with her husband Robert, owned other restaurants in the Tampa area. She had a knack for restaurant work and assisted others in establishing their restaurants.
Joyce was a nurturer at heart and in her semi-retirement years, she enjoyed working with the developmentally disabled through her daughter Joyce’s agency assisting a client with Downs Syndrome for over 15 years.
Joyce was an avid reader, loved English history and in fulfilling a dream, traveled to England to see her ancestral homeland.
Joyce had a profound love for her family and was always there to help.
Joyce is survived by her sister Jacqueline White-Felesky (Michael), 7 children, Joyce Rowe (Ron), Joseph Vigliatura, James Vigliatura, Jay Vigliatura (Jill), Jeffrey Lyons, Jaquelyn Lyons and Tracey Lyons Huff (Chris) and her dog Dublin, a total of 54 grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren.
A Memorial Service followed by a reception will be held on March 13th at the Grace Family Church, 22920 SR-54, Lutz, FL 33549. Doors open at 11:30am, service to begin at 12:00pm.
4 Comments
Jon & Risa Wingfield
What a wonderful life and legacy. Prayers of peace and comfort to the brokenhearted 💔
Joyce, my dear loving friend, my heart is with you and yours…love from Kentucky ♥️
Laura Garcia
A sadness in my heart for the loss of such a beautiful soul. I give my sincere condolences to her many family members and friends. She has left a legacy that will that will carry her on in this world. Emily Dickinson has a quote that rings true for Dear Joyce Lyons.
“Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.” Sending heartfelt love and prayers.
Love, Laura Garcia
Jacquelyn Lyons
Mum, Matriarch Divine,
My beautiful mother, so strong and wise, when storms would come, you stood with grace, no fear, no doubt, just strength in place. You taught, you guided, you paved the way, with a wit so quick and a heart so brave.
A dynasty blooms from your gentle hand, a life well lived, a love so grand. But now you’ve left and hearts now break, a loss so deep, an endless ache.
Yet even now, I hear you say, “I’m not so far, I’m on my way. There’s work to do, I’ll see you through, you know I won’t give up in you.”
And now you soar where angels stand, with my son beside you, hand in hand, two souls so strong, in love and might, a guiding force, a blazing light. My guardian angels, forever mine.
Your seventh child, I love and adore you. And I thank God you are my mother.
Jacquelyn Lyons
Dedicated to my beautiful mother!
Grief is the price we pay for love💔
In the heart of of life’s cheerful display, lies a Shakespearean tale of sorrow, that’s hard to convey.
In a world of love, where laughter should reign, a family carries heartache, a lingering pain. For the joy that once filled every day with delight, now fades into shadows, replaced by the night.
Oh, the whimsical rhyme of Dr. Suess pen, would it soften the ache? Would it soothe, could it mend? With his whimsy and wonder, his colors so bright, could he ease the dark void that haunts us at night??? And in the land of Whoville, where troubles are small, could grief be transformed into joy for us all? Perhaps in the pages of a Seussian tale, we can find solace, our spirit sets sail.
Though our mother is gone, her love still remains, in memories cherished in the heartache and pain. So, on this day as the tears still may flow, let’s honor the love that continues to grow. For grief is the price of a love pure and true, a bond that endures, yes, forever in view. Yet, in the embrace of love, grief weaves its pattern, snug as a bug.
On this day, I honor you, for the strength you show in all you do, but remember dear, though you may push and shove, grief is the price we gladly pay for love.
For my beautiful mother!