Joy Lynn Handsberry of Albuquerque, New Mexico, born April 5, 1968 in Dover, Delaware, lost her valiant battle with ovarian cancer on November 3, 2017 in Albuquerque. Joy was 49 years old.

Joy graduated as valedictorian of her class from Smyrna High School in 1986. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree with a major in Mathematics from the University of Richmond in 1990, graduating first in her class once again. Soon after earning her degree, she moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico and began her teaching career at Los Alamos High School. Her enthusiasm for helping students learn and her uniqueness in teaching brought her love and admiration from both her students and colleagues. Through her years of teaching, she earned Teacher of the Year award and was often the first teacher asked to speak at commencement ceremonies.

Joy was a devoted mother to her 14-year-old son, Max. She loved her summer road trips with Max and her yearly visits to Rehoboth with her parents and sisters. Among her other loves were the Phillies, Elvis, Dolly Parton, and spending as much time with family as possible.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Lillian and Walter Handsberry and Austin and Emma Pase.

Joy is survived by her son, Max Dryfoos of Albuquerque, New Mexico; her parents, Eugene and Carole Handsberry of Smyrna, DE; her sisters, Gina Handsberry of Los Angeles, California, and Lisa (Jim) Harp of Richmond, Virginia; her niece and nephew, Jack and Julia Harp, also of Richmond, Virginia; aunts, Pat (Wes) Conley of Clayton, Delaware, and Shirley Biddle of Smyrna, Delaware; her cousins, Stacy (Shawn) Cook of Hartly, Delaware, and Deborah (Brian) Hurd, also of Hartly, Delaware; uncles, Richard Pase of Jupiter, Florida, and Austin (Bette Ann) Pase of Smyrna, Delaware; her cousins, Jennifer Hall of Smyrna, Delaware, and John (Jen) Pase of Newark, Delaware; and many extended family members.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, November 12, 2017 from 1 pm to 3 pm in the Faries Funeral Chapel, located at 29 South Main Street in Smyrna, Delaware. A memorial service to celebrate Joy’s life will begin at 3 pm. Graveside services will be private.

Memorial donations in memory of Joy may be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance, https://ocrfa.org.

Condolence letters may be sent by visiting www.fariesfuneralhome.com.

https://www.fariesfuneralhomes.com/notices/Joy-Handsberry