Joyce (née Smith) Hughes of Delmar, a mother of four who worked for the postal service and loved gardening, died on Wednesday Aug. 14, 2024. She was 80.

She was born in Albany on Aug. 27, 1943 to the late Mary (née Miller) and Marshall Smith.

A graduate of Guilderland Central High School, Class of 1961, she started her postal career in 1969 and, after 22 years of service, she retired to Jacksonville, Florida.

“Joyce loved camping, playing bingo, and working in her flower beds,” her family wrote in a tribute. “Joyce was predeceased by her husband of 35 years, John “Jack” Hughes III. Together they resided in Florida for 27 wonderful years.”

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Joyce Hughes is survived by her children, Douglas Yeomans and his wife, Nellie; Laura McDonald and her husband, Elmer; Ronald Hughes and his wife, Dawn; and Timothy Hughes and his wife, Val.

She is also survived by her brother, Clarence Smith, and his wife, Carol, and by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a niece and nephew.

Her loving Chihuahua “Max” of 16 years died before her.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate her life on Sunday, Sept. 1, at 2 p.m. at the Henry Hudson Park Pavilion located at 169 Lyons Road in Selkirk.

Interment of her cremains will be on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 1 p.m. at the Rensselaerville Cemetery in Rensselaerville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at aspca.org.