Joy Veronica Lam

Joy Veronica Lam, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, lived a long and meaningful life grounded in faith, family, service, strength, and love. Born on April 23, 1934, Joy was raised in Georgetown, Guyana, South America, where the foundation was laid for the remarkable woman she would become.

Joy shared 49 years of marriage with her beloved husband, Percival Albert Lam. Together they built a life and family filled with memories that continued long after his passing. She was the devoted mother of her only daughter, Jacqueline Slater, and nothing was more important to Joy than the family that grew around her.

While living in Guyana, Joy worked as a telephone operator for Telecom. After immigrating to the United States, she continued her career as a telephone operator with the United Nations. She also believed strongly in serving others and was an active member of the Lions Club, where she dedicated several years to fellowship and community service.

Joy's faith was a cornerstone of her life. She was a devoted member of Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, where she faithfully served her church community in numerous ways. She lent her voice to the choir, proclaimed the Word of God as a lector, and was an active member of the Holy Name Society. Church was not simply somewhere Joy went on Sundays; her faith was something she practiced, served through, and expected her family to take seriously.

And Granny certainly had her rules about Sunday morning. She was known to remind her family, "If you can party the night away, you can get up to go to church." Those who knew her understood that this was not merely a suggestion. If Mass was beginning, you had better already be there. It was one of the many ways Joy passed her faith, values, discipline, and unmistakable personality from one generation to the next. Her grandchildren would jokingly respond, "Yes, Drill Sergeant!"

Outside of church and work, Joy enjoyed life's familiar pleasures. She loved crossword puzzles and game shows, and Family Feud with Steve Harvey became part of her daily routine. These seemingly ordinary moments became part of the fabric of family life -- the kind of memories that will now bring both smiles and longing whenever those familiar things appear.

Joy's greatest earthly treasure was her family. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Jacqueline Slater; her granddaughters, Tiffany Slater and Camielle Tobar (Juan Tobar); and her great-grandchildren, Nicolas Carew, Mason Tobar, Chloé Tobar, Sheldon Sylvester Jr., Julian Tobar, and Chelsea Tobar, as well as extended family, church family, and friends whose lives were all touched by her presence.

Joy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Percival Albert Lam; her grandson, Nicholas A. Slater; her parents; and her siblings.

Over the course of 92 years, Joy witnessed generations grow, a family expand, and a world transform around her. Yet some things remained constant: her devotion to God, her commitment to family, her strength of character, and her expectation that the people she loved would show up -- for their family, for their responsibilities, and definitely for Mass.

On September 1, 2026, Joy completed her earthly journey. Those who loved her will miss far more than the milestones of her life. They will miss the everyday presence of Granny -- her voice, her routines, her sayings, her expectations, the television playing, the crossword puzzles, and simply knowing she was there.

The faith Joy practiced throughout her life now offers comfort to those she leaves behind. The woman who so faithfully made sure her family arrived at the house of God on time has now been called home herself.

Her life was a blessing. Her memory is a treasure. Her faith was her foundation, her family was her heart, and her love will continue through every generation that follows her.

A memorial service will be at 11:00am Saturday, September 12th, 2026, at the Chester Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son.