Welcome Deborah Joyce
I hope you’ll take some time on an upcoming Sunday to say hello and chat with Deborah (Deb) Joyce, who became a Simsbury United Methodist (SUM) member on September 22, 2024.
I first met Deb during her initial visit to our church in January of this year. SUM member Dorrie deNagy, a friend of Deb’s, introduced her to our church. Recently, I enjoyed discovering more about Deb over coffee during one of our sunny fall afternoons. We covered a wide range of topics and I came away thinking Deb is well-informed and engaged with her community. She had just returned from a trip to Spain and Portugal (offered by the Granby Senior Center) and attended her Avon High School Reunion, which she co-chaired.
Deb lives in Granby with her dog, Lily, and her two daughters, Victoria and Bethany, who live nearby. She retired from her career as a Data Analyst and most recently worked for Belcan as a contractor assigned to Collins Aerospace. In that position, she performed quality metrics.
When you can talk with Deb, ask her about her near-miss experience working for Ensign Bickford and how she barely avoided injury in a 1979 explosion.
As a recent retiree, Deb keeps herself busy with regular exercise, which powers her through activities with her four grandchildren and provides the stamina for international travel. Current projects at home include organizing, labeling, and digitizing family photos for her Cloud account and selling her Depression glass collection through eBay. Deb has also been attending educational programs offered by the Granby Racial Reconciliation Group.
We happened upon the topic of sleeping and Deb's struggles with getting back to sleep. Deb describes herself as a good sleeper but has found a solution for the occasional night when she wakes and begins worrying. It’s simple and calming. She recites the Lord’s Prayer, then says to God, “I’m putting it in your hands,” and can return to sleep.
Deb quickly became involved with our church. She tried out both the Contemporary Come as You Are (9:00 a.m.) and Traditional (10:30 a.m.) services and settled on the contemporary service. Soon after, she started attending some of the adult education programs. She recently joined the Communications Team, which benefits from her love of technology and learning new things. She is also a participant in this year’s Adult Confirmation Class.
Leslie Lahue
Welcoming Team Chairperson