Joyce A. (Budnick) Pickard, 66, of Atkinson, formerly of Haverhill, passed away peacefully with her family by her side at the Holy Family Hospital at Merrimack Valley after a lengthy illness.
Born in Haverhill, she was the daughter of Joseph and Arline (Gilbert) Budnick. She attended Haverhill public schools and was a graduate of Haverhill High School, class of 1966.
Joyce was employed as a certified nursing assistant, working in local nursing homes until she found another passion, that being a tractor trailer driver. She and her husband Leon worked together as a team driving for Yes Transportation Company in Salisbury for many years until they became ill. She enjoyed playing BINGO and socializing at the Atkinson Community Center and the Vic Geary center in Plaistow. She was a country music fan and loved the concerts at Hampton Beach.
She leaves her three children, Tammy and her husband, Dennis Dandurant, of Haverhill, Joseph Ravgiala Jr. and his wife, Erin, of Fitchburg, and Michelle Ravgiala and her friend, Richard Harris, of Salem, NH, her mother, Arline Budnick, of Newburyport, brother; Bruce Budnick, of Haverhill, four stepchildren; Cheryl Riel and her husband, Paul, of North Chelmsford, Robert Pickard Sr, of Georgia, Kenneth Pickard of Lowell, and Kathy Connor and her husband Jim, of Canterbury, NH, grandchildren, Tanya Clarke, Derek Dandurant, Emma, Ethan, and Evan Ravgiala, and several step grandchildren. She was predeceased by her siblings, Robert “Butch” Budnick and Ellen Budnick-Gross, and stepsons, Arthur and Stephen Pickard.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the Joslin Diabetes Center, 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215.
Friends and family are respectfully invited to attend a graveside committal service on Thursday, August 28, at 1:00 PM in Atkinson Cemetery, Main St. Atkinson, N.H. Arrangements are under the direction of the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St. (Rte. 125) Haverhill.