Phyllis R. (Joyal) Deveaux

Milford – Mrs. Phyllis R. (Joyal) Deveaux, of Milford, formerly of Waltham, died Saturday, June 23, 2018 at Medway Manor after having suffered a stroke a week earlier. She was 79.

Phyllis was born in Waltham on October 1, 1938, one of eight children born to the late Alde and Vizina (LeBlanc) Joyal. She was a 1956 graduate of Waltham High School.

It was at Waltham High where Phyllis met her husband, Joseph P. Deveaux . . . she a cheerleader and he captain of the football squad. After high school Phyllis went to work for the Wm. H. Thompson Insurance Company while Joe enlisted with the United States Marine Corps. Following his discharge the pair married in Saint Mary's Church on February 7, 1959.

For the following fifty-nine years Phyllis and Joe were inseparable. They made Waltham their lifelong home before moving to Milford in 1998. While raising her children Phyllis worked for years as a waitress at Ritcey's Seafood on Moody Street and later worked for the Markham Company in Newton until retirement.

She and her husband were long active in church and school activities at Saint Jude Parish in Waltham including the Couples Club. Following their move to Milford they became members of Saint Matthew's Parish in Southborough where they were regulars at the four o'clock Mass.

As the next generation grew the couple faithfully followed the school and sporting events of their seven grandchildren who referred to Phyllis as 'Grammy' with heartfelt affection. Along with large helpings of unconditional love she always treated them with her baking skills and taught them the simple joy of planting a beautiful garden in the spring.

Following Phyllis's diagnosis with Parkinson's disease she and Joe became active supporters and participants with the area support group in Ashland. And while the disease may have impaired her mobility it never robbed her of her faith, family, love, and friendships that were the deep reservoirs of strength that sustained her throughout.

In addition to her husband of fifty-nine years, Joe, she leaves her children, Denise M. Corcoran and her husband, Timothy, of Milford, Kenneth J. Deveaux and his wife, Jane Braun, of Hopkinton and Linda A. Parke and her husband, Gregory, of Windham, New Hampshire; her grandchildren, Timothy, Jr. and Patrick Corcoran, Jillian and Genevieve Deveaux and Keegan, Travis and Ryan Parke; her brother and sisters, Richard Joyal of Plymouth, Eleanor Gorgone of Framingham and Irene Murray of Maynard and many nieces and nephews.

Phyllis was also a sister of the late Edmund, Henry and Eugene Joyal and Claire Knous.

Family and friends will honor and remember Phyllis's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, June 27th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning in Saint Matthew's Church, 105 Southville Road, Southborough where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to the M.J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777 or at www.michaeljfox.org