Obituary of Joyce R. Kalada

Joyce Kalada (Donnelly) was born in Johnson City, New York on August 25, 1932 to Mary Rose and Nathan Donnelly. She transitioned to be with her Lord and Savior on August 21, 2023. Joyce graduated from Johnson City High School. She married Arthur Friend on September 18, 1953 and worked for 18 years as an administrative assistant at the New Jersey Superior Court. In 1974, she married Andrew Kalada and then moved to Chenango Forks where she worked and retired from Broome Community College after 19 years. After retirement, she relocated to Gainesville Florida in 2015 to be near her daughter. Seven years later, she moved back to Johnson City in 2022 to be near her son, family, and friends living independently at Hilltop United Methodist Homes. Joyce was fond of playing cards such as pinochle at the Johnson City Senior Center, canasta in Florida, and rummy/poker with family. She loved watching sports, particularly football and baseball, closely following the NY Giants, NY Mets, and a special love-hate for the Yankees! Joyce loved music, the folk choir at St. James Church, traditional Irish music, and the old greats from the 1950's and 60's like Frankie & Dean. Joyce enjoyed watching old movies, eating Twizzlers, special dark chocolate, See's candy and potato chips—frankly anything with potatoes was considered the best. She also liked to take trips out to the casino to try her luck on the slots. She particularly cherished her trips to Ireland and Las Vegas. Joyce loved spending time with all her family especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She kept in touch with everyone by phone listening to all their adventures. She is predeceased by her parents, both husbands, seven siblings, and many nieces and nephews including Judy Allen. Her sisters were Myrt Liska, Jeanne Pirich and Margaret Kossakowski and her brothers were Nathan (Mickey) Donnelly, Gerald Donnelly, Robert Donnelly and Patrick Donnelly. She is survived by her children Kimberly Friend (Mike Ward) and Ronald Friend (Donna DiMeglio), Grandchildren Benjamin Ward (Tiffany), Aiden Friend (Rae Masson) and Samuel Ward, two Great-Granddaughters Zelda and River Ward. She is also survived by her Sister-in-law Mary Donnelly, dozens of nieces and nephews and many, many friends. Memories of her make us smile but her loss leaves a hole in our hearts. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Joyce's name to St. James Catholic Church, Johnson City or St. Jude's Children's Hospital. A Funeral Mass will be offered at St. James Church, Main Street, Johnson City, Monday at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in Vestal Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main Street, Binghamton, Monday from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.