Hudson – Sandra M. (Wilson) Joyce, 83, passed away peacefully on May 13, 2021.
Born on Feb. 4, 1938 in Waterbury, Conn. to the late Herbert and Margaret (Klein) Wilson, Sandra graduated from Lasell College and Framingham State College and worked in the advertising field, in Boston for many years before moving to Hudson in 1964.
In 1968, Sandra, with four other gardening enthusiasts, founded The Hudson Garden Club, where she eventually served as President two times. Her love of gardening led her to many State Garden Club positions and eventually she became President of The Garden Club State Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. (1999-2001).
Sandra served for over 20 years on The National Garden Club Board (NGC) and became a Master Flower Show Judge, a Master Gardening Consultant, and a Master Landscape Designer and instructor of horticulture, travelling throughout the United States and South America, for NGC. Sandra’s gardens were her pride and joy and on tour many times, and her son Terrence contributed many hours of time and effort to help cultivate their beauty with her.
Sandra was a Cub Scout den mother for many years and President of the Home and School Association when her children were in elementary school. Sandra was the first woman honored to join the Hudson Rotary Club and served as President in 1987 for one term.
Sandra, along with Irene Sabean produced the “Lakeview Newsletter” for many years. Sandra was deemed “Woman of the Year” by the Enterprise newspaper in 1974.
For 40 years, Sandra owned and operated the Apple Valley Flower Shoppe in downtown Hudson, perfecting the art of flower arranging and designing until retiring in 2013.
Her husband, John J. Joyce, predeceased her in August 2016 and her brother, Herbert S. Wilson (wife Linda) of Virginia, in February 2020. She is survived by her children, Scott and his wife Susan of New Hampshire, Timothy and his spouse Jane Pan of California, and Terrence and his fiancée Johnna-Claire Metz, of Breezy Point, N.Y.; one granddaughter, Jennifer Joyce of New Hampshire; and one grandson, Thomas Nelson of New Hampshire.
A memorial celebration will be held in the later Summer at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon.
In lieu of flowers, donations supporting a new community-based horticultural beautification grant may be made in Sandra’s memory to The Garden Club State Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. (https://www.gcfm.org; See grant forms).
