These anniversaries come once a year, but Joyce is part of me forever. I hope Joyce is looking down on me and happy that I am living my life as best I can. Joyce suffered so much at the end of her life and that is the part of our lives that haunt me. I felt helpless in taking care of her and her doctor was not any help. He didn't seem to have any compassion for her situation. Joyce would have been heartbroken to know that her son Eric had passed in June 2022.

It's been 2 years that Joyce has been gone. We had 40 wonderful years together and I think of her every day. Life does go on and I will keep part of my heart reserved for her until the day I die. I hope she is in heaven in a better place. To those that are not aware, Joyce's son Eric passed away this year, Joyce would have been devastated. Also, this Tribute to Joyce will last forever, so feel free to come back and post a memory of Joyce at any time.

Happy Birthday, Dear Joyce. Missing you from our Garden Club gatherings!!! Know you always enjoyed them, my friend. You were always so sweet. Enjoyed talking with you always. Prayers to your family.

Love,
Barb

Remembering my sweet friend and all the fun we had at Garden Club. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers today, and praying that your family finds peace and comfort in all of their wonderful memories. You are in Heaven looking down on us all. Blessings!

I met Joyce at our Pelican Reef Garden Club several years ago. We both enjoyed being part of this amazing group of women. I remember chatting with Joyce. She was so personable and attended the meetings and road trips. It was a time just to relax and be together. Even when Joyce and Ben moved into Wilmington, she still returned for meetings and other gatherings. She had a sweet smile and I looked forward to time together. My prayers continue for Joyce and her family. I pray for your comfort and peace, grateful for your time together and wonderful memories. She will be missed so much!!!

Joyce DiMeglio Lopez, 72, of Wilmington, NC, wife of Ben Lopez, passed away on December 10, 2020. Born on August 28, 1948 in Washington, DC she was the daughter to the late Frank and Gladys DiMeglio.

Joyce graduated from Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, MD. She furthered her education at Montgomery College in Rockville, MD. Through her career she worked as an administrative assistant and an executive secretary. Her skills with computers, mainframe, PC and her favorite Macintosh, earned her many awards and accolades. She managed to work up until the day she found out she had pancreatic cancer.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sons Eric Devereaux and Kevin Devereaux, she is also survived by her sister Maria Chakalakis and her brother Frank DiMeglio, Jr. plus three step-daughters, Melinda Pleasant, Dana Haney and Christina Davis. She was preceded in death by half-sister Pat Rutter and half-brother Ray Hamson.

In lieu of flowers the family recommends that donations be sent to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare in Wilmington, NC. No service is planned at this time.

Joyce was the love of my life. We spent 40 wonderful years together. I'm writing this 29 days after she passed and they have been the toughest 29 days of my life. I miss her so much, it's like there's a part of me missing. She made me whole. We met in 1980 and moved in together on April 4, 1981. We lived in Northern Virginia and we married on June 27, 1983, The following year I was transferred to Seattle and we lived there for 10 years. Our children would visit us during the summer and those visits were memorable to both Joyce and I. In 1994 I was transferred back to the main office in Washington, DC, and we were now living close to Joyce's now grow two boys, Eric and Kevin. Then in 2004 we retired to the southeast coast of North Carolina where she would live out the rest of her life.

On May 26, 2020, after a long weekend of backpain, Joyce decided that she could not take the pain anymore. She was hesitant to go to the ER because of Covid-19. Her only option to get some relief was to go to the ER. I could not accompany her inside. They were able to relieve some of the pain, they did a CT scan and told her that she needed to see her primary care physician the next morning, because they saw something on her pancreas that looks like cancer. The next morning, again I could not accompany her inside, at her doctor's office, Dr. Peng told her the whole truth that she had pancreatic cancer, they could not operate because of the location of the tumor and that it appears that it has spread to her liver. After a biopsy, the cancer in the liver was verified. Her care was turned over to an an oncologist that suggested chemo to "buy her some time". Joyce wanted to live as long as she could, before this diagnosis she was a healthy-working, 71-year-old woman. In a little over six and a half months she would be gone from this Earth.

During that time she suffered immensely. I took care of her the best that I could and on December 7, she had her last chemo treatment. The next day she decided it was time to get hospice involved. The Lower Cape Fear LIfeCare helped in keeping her as comfortable as possible. We made arrangements to Zoom call her boys and her granddaughter, at this point Joyce's voice was not more than a whisper all she could say was, "I love you..." to Madison, Eric and Kevin. During this period of her sickness, we were swamped with get well cards, prayers and positive energy. Joyce read all the cards until she could not read anymore and I read them to her. The law office (CSH LAW) that Joyce worked were extremely helpful, bringing us food, gift cards and two ladies, Katie and Celeste stopped by several times to talk to Joyce and of course they brought food. Joyce's friends in Northern Virginia sent cards and gift cards, flowers and called Joyce until Joyce lost all energy to be able to talk. Joyce's friend in Seattle, Gail, called but was in the middle of selling their house and moving into a new home. There were so many cards that I can't remember every one but Joyce appreciated each and every one and when she could no longer read them, I read them to her. Joyce is at peace now and that gives me some solace. Joyce thought that she "would not be missed" that was one thing she was totally wrong about...many people miss her and for me there will always be that hole in my heart that she filled so wonderfully for 40 years.