Joyce Elaine Faulkner Ames

She was born Feb. 5, 1933, in Mayville, N.Y., the daughter of the late Guy A. and Marjorie Van Atter Faulkner.

From the ages of nine to 20 she was raised by her maternal grandparents, Carl G .and Harriette Van Atter.

She was a 1951 graduate of Mayville Central School and a 1953 graduate of Jamestown Business College with a degree in medical secretarial. Joyce was then employed by Dr. Robert E. Storms in West-field, NY from 1953-56, Welch’s Foods office from 1956-63, Westfield Memorial Hospital from 1963-66, Dr. Arnold Victor’s office from 1969-74, the Galley Restaurant from 1975-84, McDonalds in Fredonia from 1988-93, and Four Seasons Restaurant from 1993-99.

Joyce is survived by her two sons: Michael Jon (Bobbi) Ames of Old Town, Fla., and Phillip Scott (Kathy) Ames of Portland, N.Y.; one daughter, Melissa (Robert) Stalter of Portland, N.Y.; grandchildren; Zachary (Kristy) Stalter, Justin (Lynsy) Stalter, Kimberly and Nicole Ames, Steven Morse, and Carrie Tredo, Randi (James) Fitzgibbons, and Jessica Goodell; 15 great-grandchildren; one sister, Nancy (Irwin) Ruttenbur; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce H. Ames, whom she married Feb. 5, 1953 in Hartfield, N.Y., and who died Nov. 24, 1997; a brother; Richard A. Faulkner; maternal grandparents; Carl G. and Harriette Van Atter, and paternal grandparents; Roy and Jennie Faulkner.

Joyce was very active in her church, the Portland Congregational Church of Portland, N.Y., as the treasurer for 15 years, organist and pianist for 53 years, and a choir director and Sunday school teacher for many years.

She enjoyed playing the piano, organ, and key-boards, singing, cooking, reading, knitting, and crocheting. She was a professional cook for 20 years be-fore retiring July 30, 1999. She had a very large cook-book collection, game collection, and music collection. She also enjoyed roller skating, swimming, and time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at 11a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, at the Portland Congregational Church (8649 Church Street, Port-land, NY 14769). The Rev. Joshua Ehmke will officiate. Burial will be in the Portland Evergreen Cemetery.

Friends are invited for visitation on Monday, Aug. 23 from 4-7 p.m., at the Freay Funeral Home in Mayville (139 South Erie Street).

Memorial contributions can be made to the Portland Congregational Church (8649 Church Street, Port-land, NY 14769) or the Westfield Patterson Library (40 South Portage Street, Westfield, NY 14787)

To leave a remembrance or to post condolences to the family, please visit freayfuneralhome.com