Joyce E. Anderson-Stites

Joyce E. Anderson Stites, beloved mother, grandmother, and nurse, passed away peacefully at home on October 16, 2025, at the age of 91, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1933, Joyce nurtured a lifelong dream of becoming a nurse from the age of six. She fulfilled that dream by attending Peter Bent Brigham Nursing School in Boston, and she dedicated over 60 years of her life to nursing in the Denver, Colorado area.

Joyce was the proud mother of five children with her first husband, Pete Anderson. Later in life, she married Randall Stites. She cherished her life in Colorado, where she enjoyed gardening, bicycling, spending time in the mountains and participating in community groups like the Red Hat Society. Joyce always had a spirit of adventure and developed a deep passion for travel. Her travels included unique experiences that took her to many corners of the globe. She relished in preserving those memories in hundreds of photo albums and scrapbooks.

Joyce faced profound loss with the unexpected death of her daughter Lisa in 2004, her son David in 2019 and her husband, Randy earlier this year. Despite these sorrows, she persevered in enjoying a meaningful life, bringing joy and companionship to those around her.

Joyce is survived by:

     • Her brother, David Firmin of Worcester, Massachusetts

     • Daughters: Bonnie Rowe (Stuart) of Augusta, West Virginia; Tracy Carlo (Bobby) of Littleton, Colorado; and Leslie Anderson of Aurora, Colorado

     • Grandchildren: Jennifer Anderson of Seward, Alaska; Anthony Carlo (Chelsea) of Golden, Colorado; Daniel Carlo (Kahli) of Montezuma, Colorado; Caleb Cannady of Seward, Alaska; and Quentin Johnson of Anchorage, Alaska

      • Great-grandchildren: Iris Anderson and Basil Dougherty of Seward, Alaska; Elizabeth Carlo of Aurora, Colorado; Wren Dougherty of Anchorage, Alaska; Jacob Carlo of Fishkill, New York; Jack Carlo of Montezuma, Colorado and Dylan Cannady of Seward, Alaska

      • Great-great grandsons, Kadence and Sorrel Dougherty of Seward, Alaska.

Joyce's legacy is one of compassion, dedication, and a zest for life. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her.

The family looks forward to celebrating Joyce's life in early 2026. Please reach out to the family for further details.