Joyce Coppola's Obituary
Joyce J. Coppola, M.D., age 73, of Pawtucket, RI, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2025, after a brave battle with cancer. Joyce was the beloved wife of 41 years to the late Barbara (Bettle) Packard.
Born in Lawrence, MA, on March 4, 1952, Joyce was the daughter of the late Rosario and Joan (Savastano) Coppola. She spent much of her youth with her grandparents, the late Pasquale and Mary (Allen) Savastano, and her sister, Dale (Coppola) Chasse of Pawtucket, RI—where, as Joyce noted, “an irreplaceable bond was formed,” one that carried through to her final moments.
Joyce leaves behind her siblings: Russell Coppola and his wife Kathy of Land O’ Lakes, FL; Susan Coppola of Haverhill, MA; Kevin Coppola of Lawrence, MA; Brian Coppola of North Andover, MA; and Patricia (Coppola) Zahn and her husband John of Brentwood, NH. She was predeceased by siblings David Coppola and Diane (Coppola) Dunn. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Joyce held a special place in her heart for her lifelong friend Elizabeth (Elias) Garcia, with whom she shared many years of memories and hot fudge sundaes.
From a young age, Joyce knew she wanted to become a doctor—at a time when it was far less common for women to pursue that path. She fearlessly pursued her education at Universidad del Noreste in Mexico, followed by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in the Bronx, NY, and completed her residency at Brown University in Providence, RI, where she later became a professor. Upon graduating from Brown, Joyce opened her own medical practice and built a home with Barbara in Pawtucket.
Joyce loved summers at the beach, often reminiscing about days spent in Salisbury and later enjoying peaceful times in York, ME. She lived a life of simplicity—give her a chocolate cannoli and her Mickey Mouse, and she was a happy camper.
Though she did not have children of her own, Joyce took immense pride in her nieces and nephews and cherished watching them grow and start families of their own. Early in life, a nun once told her, “Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or cannot be.” Joyce embodied that philosophy and shared it with everyone she met.
In recent years, she became involved with Youth Pride Inc., a nonprofit devoted to the belief that "no child should have to grow up invisible”—words that deeply resonated with her philanthropic spirit.
Friends and guests are invited to calling hours on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence Street, Methuen. A funeral service will follow immediately at 12:00 PM. Burial will take place at St. Mary–Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce’s memory may be made to Youth Pride Inc., 743 Westminster St., Providence, RI 02903, or via Venmo @youthprideinc.
The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the Coppola family.
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