1932 – 2014

SOUTH PARIS — Joyce E. Carman, 82, of South Paris passed away peacefully Friday, Sept. 19, in the home her husband, the light of her life,“Harvey,” built with her daughters and her granddaughter, Leilani, at her side.

She was born in Auburn on April 19, 1932, a daughter of Kenneth and Elizabeth Johnson Stevens. Her younger years were spent in Hebron on the grounds of Hebron Academy, a place she loved living. She later moved to South Paris, where she attended Paris schools and met her husband, Charles “Harvey” Carman, and they married and raised their family.

She worked at Hebron Academy in the dining area with her sister, Shirley West. They attended church together, earned their CNAs, worked at Cornwall’s and later at Woolen Mill in Oxford, where they both retired.

A woman of faith, the loves of this life were her husband and her family. She was known to many who loved her outside the family as Mimi. The holidays at Mimi’s and Papa’s house were always magical. Thanksgiving dinners called for lining tables from dining room to kitchen to fit their ever-growing family, and Christmases were spent singing Christmas songs together while gathered in the living room, which always culminated with a rendition of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Saturday morning breakfasts became a tradition for many years, something she looked forward to all week. She and Harvey loved their trips to Bar Harbor with family.

Although Joyce’s first and only boy died at 2½ old, they would later be blessed with a son-in-law, Jody, who soon became a true son to them.

Joyce leaves behind daughters, Gail Lussier of Mechanic Falls, and Laurie Carman and her husband, Jody, of South Paris; eight grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves three brothers, William Stevens of West Paris, Lester Stevens and his wife, Barbara, of Poland, and Paul Stevens and his companion, Lorna Latourneau, of Oxford.

She was predeceased by her husband; son, William Terry Carman; daughters, Kathleen Austin and Rebecca Dorsey; brother, James Stevens, and her sister and best friend, Shirley West.

A special thank-you to Barbara, Nicole and Tammy of Androscoggin Home Health for the wonderful care Mom was given and the great support they were for the family.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.