Holyoke, MA – Joy A. Russell, 81, of Holyoke, MA, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2026. She was born in Northampton, MA on January 1, 1945.
Joy graduated from Amherst High School and Northampton Commercial College.
Joy worked many years and retired from the Geriatric Authority of Holyoke, as a bookkeeper. Joy worked there alongside her older sister, Polly Tuttle.
Joy enjoyed camping in Vermont, spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her many friends. She had a deep admiration for cows and was a faithful woman, who attended church at the Easthampton and Southampton Congregational Church.
Joy grew up in Amherst and raised her children in Easthampton with her husband, Leigh, for many decades.
Joy will be remembered for her quick wit, outgoing nature, and love of her pet dogs.
Joy is predeceased by her parents, Clarence “Chappy” and Grace Adams, her sisters, Pauline Tuttle and Janet Achilles, and her beloved oldest son, Leigh Russell Jr.
Joy is survived by her husband of 62 years Leigh Russell; her brother-in-law David Russell (Karen); her children: Jeannette Joy Rizos (Efthimios) Michael Andrew Russell (Sarina); her grandchildren: Joy (Kenneth), Dimitrios, Yiannis (Katherine), Alexandros (Anastasia), Lyric, Maya, Frederickos; and her great-grandchildren: Efthimia and Kenneth. Joy leaves behind many nieces, nephews and dear friends. She will be missed by all very dearly.
Services in honor of Joy will be held at Mitchell Funeral Home in Easthampton, MA. Visitation hours will be Friday, October 23, 2026, between 5 pm – 7 pm. Funeral services to take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Southampton Congregational Church at 11 a.m. Mitchell Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
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