Joyce Patricia (Audia) Zavatkay

On Sunday, July 30, 2023, Joyce Patricia Zavatkay passed away after a long, brave battle with Parkinson’s disease. She passed peacefully at her home in Harwinton, CT, with her devoted husband of 57 years, Frederick John Zavatkay, by her side. Over the final years of her life, she faced significant physical challenges from Parkinson’s disease. She confronted those difficulties head on with a unique combination of grace and grit that were defining features of her personality and found ways to meaningfully connect with those closest to her through the final days of her life.

Joyce was born in Torrington, CT on February 9, 1946, to her parents Eleanor Kost Audia and John Audia. She was raised in Torrington. As a child, she enjoyed the performing arts including singing, ballet, and tap. When she was nineteen, she met her husband, Fred, and they were married in Torrington on November 5, 1966. Joyce had many passions: her family, entertaining family and friends, the arts, helping others, and of course, shopping. In the early years of her marriage, Joyce focused on designing and building her home, while lovingly raising her two daughters Kim and Leslie. With a keen sense of style and an adventurous spirit, she continued to explore the arts with excursions to New York City to take in Broadway shows or locally to enjoy a concert with her family.

An important part of Joyce’s life included her many years of dedicated service as an administrative support person at the UCONN Health Center. She served as a medical secretary in the Neonatal ICU for many of those years. Her “can-do” attitude and tenacious work ethic made her the go-to support person during her employment there.

Joyce was extremely personable with an outgoing personality and a deep care for the people in her life. Joyce was a spirited and thoughtful friend and colleague, chatting about her many interests or life in general with the sharp wit and humor she was known for.

Joyce was predeceased by her mother (Eleanor), father (John) and brother, Richard Audia. She is survived by her husband, Frederick John Zavatkay, her sister, Janice O’Connor, sister-in-law Mary Ann Audia, brother-in-law William Zavatkay, her daughters Kimberly and her husband Dr Douglas Robertson of Hanover, NH, and Leslie and her husband Terry Dry of Los Angeles, CA, and her five grandchildren, Matthew, Katherine, and Christopher Robertson and Madeline and Alexandra Dry. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donation can be made in her name to the Parkinson's Foundation.