Joyce Selma (Swenson) Conroy

Joyce Selma (Swenson) Conroy passed away peacefully on April 12, 2023 in Keene, New Hampshire, under the excellent care of Hospice at HCS and Langdon Place. “Grandma Joy” was born May 24, 1939, in Stratford, Connecticut, the youngest child of Commodore Clifford Swenson and famed flapper Selma (Larson) Swenson, and sister of Judith (Swenson) Anderson.  She grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, graduating from Hall High School in 1957, where she may have been voted “most likely to tailgate at Dartmouth Football games for over 30 years”.  She then took her academic talents to Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont, graduating in 1959 with an Associate’s degree in business, but a PhD in party planning.  After two years in New York City working in accounting and enjoying the Big Apple, she returned to the Hartford area and soon met Peter M. Conroy, Jr.  They were peas in a pod. They married on September 7, 1963, and began a family.  She also helped Peter build his law practice, working for two decades as his legal secretary, paralegal, bookkeeper and whatever else needed to be done, all while raising three children in Avon, Connecticut.  They were a fixture at their children’s sporting events, which dominated the family calendar for twenty years.  It is rumored that her cheers of “come on, Avon!” can still be heard echoing around the playing fields at Avon Old Farms School. Their tailgate parties were legendary.  Their cocktail parties were epic. They lived life to the fullest. In the early 1990s, Joyce and Peter relocated to Wilder, Vermont, in the Upper Valley area they had come to love through their long association with Dartmouth College. Although she lost Peter far too early in 1994, she remained in her beloved Upper Valley, working for years at the Norwich Inn, tending to her gardens, and serving as surrogate mother or grandmother to those in her orbit in need of a friendly ear and her no-nonsense perspective on life.  Her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends were her world.  She was predeceased by her parents, sister Judy, and husband Peter.  She is survived by her children Kathleen Conroy and her partner Michele Desmond, of New Hampshire, Brian Conroy and his wife Laurie, their children Paden, Virginia and Ingrid of Darien, Connecticut, and Michael Conroy and his wife Diane, their children Emma and Aidan of Weatogue, Connecticut, and many nieces and nephews.  Per her wishes, there are no calling hours, and burial will be private. Toast her memory; she’d like that.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: HCS Home Healthcare Hospice & Community Services, 312 Marlboro Street, Keene NH 03431.