Helen “Joyce” Blatchford, nee Regan

Joyce Blatchford passed away peacefully, on Monday, July 21, 2025, at Centrica Rose Arbor. She was born June 1, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois to James & Helen (Galvin) Regan. Joyce’s family moved to Three Rivers, Michigan where she attended middle and high school. She was a 1954 graduate of Mercy School of Nursing in Detroit and was a Registered Nurse. She was joined in Holy Matrimony to Robert (Bob) C. Blatchford, on September 17, 1955. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by two sisters and her husband Bob.

Joyce was a longtime resident of Parchment, Michigan, and a member of St. Ambrose parish for over 60 years. In addition to volunteering at St. Ambrose, for over 20 years she volunteered with the Notre Dame Club of Kalamazoo preparing and serving meals at the Ministry with Community. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, most evenings you could find her supporting her children at a variety of sporting events between Kindleberger Park and Parchment Schools. Joyce was an avid reader and had a regular presence at the Parchment Community Library. She was a history buff who enjoyed Jeopardy and her weekly crossword puzzles. Joyce had a deep Catholic faith, a quite strength and a warm, kind heart. Her presence was not only a constant for her children, but also for their friends, to be a sounding board, a hot meal, a ride, a place to stay, an item from her purse that she carried for “just in case”, or a second mom, whether it was needed or not. She will be fondly remembered for her compassion, her quick-witted sense of humor, and being clad in her winter stocking cap and wool blanket to watch her kids’ sporting events.

Although Joyce maintained her nursing license well into her eighties, she was a stay-at-home mom who always said her greatest joy and accomplishment was her children. She is survived by her children; Timothy (Virginia) Blatchford and their children: Father Colin Blatchford, Mary (Nolan) Russo, Brendan (Kathryn) Blatchford, Father Neil Blatchford, Kevin (Abbey) Blatchford, Brian (Cecelia) Blatchford, Timothy (Kate) Blatchford, John (Genevieve) Blatchford, Liam (Annabelle) Blatchford and Clare Blatchford; Anne Blatchford (John Spitzer) and their children: Tim (Kaitlyn Karsten) Spitzer and Patty (Will Edgerton) Spitzer; Kevin Blatchford; Robert M. (Becky) Blatchford and their children: Jordan (Alan) Coyne and Tyler Bradford; and Meghan (Joseph) Stanford and their son Aedan, as well as 13 great grandchildren. Also survives is her brother, James Regan of Kalamazoo, and several nieces and nephews.

In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. A funeral mass will be celebrated on August 19, 2025 at 11:00 am, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 1628 East G Avenue in Parchment, Michigan, followed by a private interment for family at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest alongside her husband Bob. A reception will follow at St. Ambrose hall.

While at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please take time to sign Joyce's guestbook and/or share a memory with her family.

The Blatchford family is being cared for by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society, 129 South Grand Street, Schoolcraft, MI 49087. 269-679-5622.