Joyce May Jessoe

Joyce May Jessoe, 82, passed away peacefully on May 30, 2025 in Glendale, California. Born on February 26, 1943, she grew up outside of Seneca Falls, New York in the tiny town of Fayette, New York. Joyce lived with an unwavering zest for life. She had a keen interest in travel, gardening, and lively conversation and laughter with her extended family and wide network of friends. Joyce was a devoted wife and mother. She cherished her almost 30-year marriage with her beloved husband, Lawrence "Larry" Jessoe, who passed away in 2000. She was mother to Stephen (Andrea) Jessoe, Mark (Rebecca) Jessoe, who passed away in 2022, and Jennifer Jessoe (Michael Jewsbury). In addition, Joyce loved being a grandmother to Arwen Jessoe and Harrison Jewsbury.

Born to George and Agnes Ward during WWII and raised in the local farming community of Fayette alongside her siblings. Joyce was the oldest of four siblings and loved spending time with them and their families throughout her life. Joyce was preceded in death by her brother, Lawrence Ward, and her sister, Beverly Graves. Joyce is survived by her sister, Ruth McBride.

After high school, Joyce chose nursing as a profession and went to nursing school. She worked as a nurse in several hospitals in New York and Massachusetts during the 1960s and ‘70s. Of her various nursing roles, she most enjoyed working as a surgical nurse.

Joyce married Larry in 1970 and started her family soon after. The family chose to stay in Massachusetts and lived in several towns near Boston. They primarily lived in the small town of Concord, Massachusetts, famous for its historical significance in the American Revolutionary War.

Joyce and her family moved to Palos Verdes Estates, California in 1987 quickly connecting to the community. After her children were grown, Joyce brought warmth and compassion to local preschool children by returning to work as a Teacher’s Aide, where she impacted many young lives. Joyce was passionate about traveling the world (visiting 6 continents), gardening (longtime member of the local garden club). She also cared deeply about whales during her many decades living in Southern California. She volunteered as a docent at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, providing tours and classes for the community. The Point Vicente Interpretive Center is a small, local museum educating visitors about the Palos Verdes Peninsula's history, geography, and whale migration. In addition, Joyce spent hundreds of hours assisting the Pacific Gray Whale Census Project, counting and tracking their annual migration.

In accordance with her wishes, Joyce has been cremated and her ashes will be scattered in the Pacific Ocean in a private boat side ceremony attended by her immediate family. A Celebration of Life will be held on July 26, 2025 at the Community Room of the Palos Verdes Bay Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, where she lived for nearly 20 years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Los Serenos de Point Vicente organization, where she was a docent at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center. The Los Serenos volunteer organization provides educational services to the community at the Interpretive Center through docent-led tours, special events (such as Whale of a Day), workshops, and classes.