Joyce Mary MacArthur, formerly of Douglastown, NB, passed away peacefully on August 16th at Mount Saint Joseph nursing home at the age of 97.

Born in Belledune River, NB, on February 14th, 1928, she was the daughter of James and Annie (Beaudry) Roherty. She was the 7th of 9 children.

She is survived by her 2 daughters, Heather (Harry) MacDonald and Marybeth MacArthur, both of Miramichi, her 2 sons, Peter (Jan) MacArthur of Cole Harbour, NS and Tom (June) MacArthur, of Saint John, NB., and by her elder sister, Jean (Roherty) Kealty of Alexandria, ON. She was Nanny to 5 grandchildren, Melissa (Rick Stymiest) McGloin of Miramichi; Jennifer MacDonald of Toronto, On; Matthew (Teri) McGloin of Perth, On; Michael (Laura) MacDonald of Fredericton, NB, and Nicholas (Jenn) McGloin of Dalhousie, NB. She was Great nanto Mitchell Skidd (Zoe); Olivia LaRose (Aaron); Mira and Alice McGloin, Kate and Eve MacDonald, and Mason and Elizabeth McGloin. She was a special aunt to many special nieces and nephews, who visited her often.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband Leonard MacArthur (1982), her son Alexander (Sandy) MacArthur (1983); her Great-grandson Caleb McGloin (2025), and 7 siblings Ida Brown, Alton, Ralph and John Roherty, Ella Farrar, Mary Trace, and Carol Blaszkowski. 

Joyce graduated from High School in Petit Rocher, NB, as valedictorian in 1945, and taught under a local licence in Grangeville, NB., where she met and eventually married Leonard. They moved to Miramichi after their marriage in 1948, living in Newcastle, Quarryville, Nordin, and then moving to their own home in Douglastown, in 1957. She lived there until January 2025, when she moved to MSJ. She faithfully attended Masses at Saint Samuel’s church for over 70 years. 

Joyce worked as a waitress at the French Fort Restaurant, thentook a secretarial course from 1971-72. She worked as a clerk-typist at the Mental Health Clinic in Chatham for 20 years, retiring at age 65. After retirement, she joined many clubs and Seniors groups, where she enjoyed curling, bowling playing cards, quilting, and meeting visitors at tourism Miramichi. She loved to travel, and went on many cruises, bus trips, and European adventures, including 3 trips to Ireland; she made tripsevery spring and fall to Massachusetts and Alexandria to visit sisters, Ida and Jean.

She was a long-time member of the Douglastown Senior’s Friendship Club, and an original member of the Miramichi Zone of the New Brunswick Senior Citizen’s Federation where she helped organize the NB 55 + games when it was held in Miramichi. She also belonged to the Senior’s Advisory Board of Miramichi, where she served as secretary until 2022.

The family would like to thank Joyce’s Unicare Caregivers whowere employed for the 6 months prior to her move to MSJ for their kindness and support. We also would like to express our deepest gratitude to the wonderful staff in the Memory Unit at Mount Saint Joseph for their dedicated, compassionate care and kindness towards our whole family. She called staff and residents “my people” and truly felt at home there.

The family will receive visitors at Jardine Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 from 6-9 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from  St.Samuel’s Roman Catholic Church, Douglastown, on Wednesday, August 20,2025, at 11 AM with Fr. John Fraser officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. 

In Joyce’s memory donations may be made to Mount St. Joseph Nursing Home. Messages of condolence can be sent through the funeral home website: www.miramichifunerals.ca