Joyce Ann Palacio

Joyce Ann Palacio (Nee Cottle) of West Palm Beach, Florida passed away on Friday January 3, 2025, at the age of 76. She was born on July 25, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Shorewood, Wisconsin where she attended Milwaukee University School and University School of Milwaukee, graduating in 1966.

She studied Exceptional Education for the Deaf and Blind at Eastern Michigan University and Michigan State University graduating in 1970. Joy received her master’s in educational Rehabilitation Counseling at University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 1978.

She worked as a teacher of students with special needs in Milwaukee Public Schools for over 15 years. Joy moved to Florida where she first worked as Service Coordinator at Diocese of the Palm Beaches and then as the Administrator of Blind Services in West Palm Beach. Joy retired in 2005.

Joy was actively involved in providing services and rights for people with disabilities. Throughout Joy’s adult life she was a dedicated volunteer during presidential campaigns. She organized a group of volunteers at Resnick Assisted Living in 2024 to Get Out the Vote. Joy loved to play games and do jigsaw puzzles with her family and friends.

She was preceded in death her Parents Philip Rae Cottle and Mary Ellen Cottle, and niece Sarah Phillips.

Joy is survived by her Devoted husband Roberto Palacio, loving daughter Mara (Nikki) Saltzburg, son Jaimison (Kate) Karp, adored grandson Parker Saltzburg, and dear sisters Cindy Phillips and Pat (John) Sylvester. Also survived by her nieces Rachel (Michael) Kozlowski, Shaina (Bradley) Sylvester, Miriam (Seth Felenz) Phillips, Leah (Riley) Doherty and nephew Jonathan (Jenna) Phillips. She will be greatly missed by her grand nieces and nephews Maya and Lily Kozlowski, Olivia and Porter Jackson, Sarah and Eloise Phillips and Max Fellenz.

The family would like to thank Resnick Assisted Living at Morse Life for the compassionate care they provided for our loved one.

A private Celebration of Life for family and close friends will held in Boca Raton on January 19, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in their honor to helenkeller.org or peggyadams.org.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller