Joyce Brooks

A memorial service for Joyce V. Brooks, 74, of Stratford, CT, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc., 326 Albany Ave, Kingston, NY 12401. Friends and family may visit from 3-5pm.

Joyce V. Brooks passed away on Thursday, Oct 23, 2025, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY.

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Joyce Virgi Brooks, daughter of Herman Ricks and Theora Spencer-Ricks, was born on Dec. 23, 1950, in Kingston, NY. She attended the local public schools and graduated from Kingston High School in 1968.

Joyce married Stephen A. Brooks on May 3, 1969, in Kingston, NY. She held various jobs during her working adult life and worked as a teacher’s aide before retiring.

She spent most of her adult life in Kingston where she was born and raised, moving away briefly in the mid 1980’s to Arlington Heights, a suburb of Chicago, IL and returning to the area a few years later. In 2018, Joyce moved to Bridgeport CT where she was near her son, Jhasson and two nieces: Moni Ricks and Malette Blakeney. She spent the last four months of her life in Hillburn, NY with her sister, Elaine Toney, nephew Taylor Toney and his wife Caitlin Toney.

She enjoyed being outside, walking, exercising, listening to music, and was always the first one on the dance floor. Most of all she loved her family.

Joyce is survived by daughter Stephenie Brooks-Maynard (Nigel) of Hyattsville, MD; son Jhasson Brooks (Robin) of Stratford, CT; grandson Dylan Brooks of Naugatuck, CT; grandson Jaden Brooks of West Palm Beach, FL; great-granddaughter Alani Brooks of Naugatuck, CT; sister Elaine Toney of Hillburn, NY, and many cousins, nieces & nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Stephen Brooks; brothers Jon Ricks & Raymond Ricks; sister Fannie Ricks; and brother-in-law Anthony Toney.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.KeyserFuneralService.com.