Joyce "Joy" Rosetta Lurken

Joyce B. Lurken, also known during her life as Joy Pfeiffer and Joyce Bove, passed away on October 7th at the age of 91. Born in Yonkers, New York, Joy was the daughter of Edith and Luigi Bove and a first-generation Italian American. Her life spanned communities in Yonkers and Warwick, New York, and Vero Beach, Florida.

A devout Christian Science Practitioner for over 7 decades, Joy was an advocate for human rights both locally and globally. She raised her four children in Warwick, New York, where she contributed to her community as a girl scout leader, PTA president and the Welcome Wagon hostess for the town. She moved to Vero Beach, Florida in 1978 where she continued to serve her community. In Vero Beach she held the position of church president for several terms while also running a private office where she served clients as a Christian Science Practitioner.

Her volunteer work included fighting for children’s rights as a court appointed guardian ad litem. She also volunteered for the Democratic party and Habitat for Humanity. She was an advocate for women’s rights her entire life and in 1995 she flew to China as a representative for the National Organization of Women.

Her two favorite pastimes were tennis and travel. She attended the French Open, U.S. Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon as well as many other tennis tournaments. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1988 and taught Italian for many years at Indian River College.

She is survived by her four children: Wendy Goodwin in Huntersville, NC, Lynn Martin in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Rich Pfeiffer in Silverado, CA and Russ Pfeiffer in Venice Beach, CA. She also had 7 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Celebration of life will be held in the future.

Gone to another realm of light, Joy’s mark on the world will continue through the many souls she touched during her very full life.