Christine Joyal's Obituary
Christine was born on Easter Sunday morning on April 20th, 1930, in Pawtucket, RI, daughter to the late Charles and Julia Kosiba.
Christine attended East High School in Pawtucket and the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI.
She married Norman Peter Joyal, Sr of Lincoln, RI on June 24, 1950, and moved to St Petersburg as a bride. They were former owners of Florida Matchstick & Bamboo Co, Tropicraft Shade & Drapery Co, Joyal Realty, The Fifth Avenue Motel and multiple local properties.
Christine was a member of the Cathedral of St Jude since its inception in the 1950s and was a Lector, Eucharistic Minister and Cursio Sponsor at the Cathedral for many years. Christine and her husband, Norman Sr, attended the first mass on February 11, 1951, in a garage on the grounds of Admiral Farragut Academy, while waiting for the Cathedral Church to be built. Christine remained a devout Catholic and parishioner of St Jude’s, up to the present time.
Besides the many years of volunteering at St Jude’s - nurse’s office, festivals and many other events, she volunteered at We Help, St Anthony’s Hospital and Daystar Life Center.
She held multiple roles and offices in the St Jude’s Women’s Guild, St Anthony’s Hospital Auxiliary, All Children’s Hospital Guild, Woman’s Service League, Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Cross of Lorraine, The Historical Museum of St Pete and The Florida Orchestra Guild and The Stuart Society of the Museum of Fine Arts. Additionally, Christine was a former president of the Sword of Hope and former member of the Board of the American Cancer Society of Pinellas County.
Her awards and recognitions include the Princess in the Queen of Hearts Court in 1995, elected into the Best-Groomed Hall of Fame and received the Hope Award from the Sword of Hope of the American Cancer Society for her volunteer work with the society.
Christine loved to travel the US and beyond, play bridge with friends, read mystery and historical novels and was also a Ballroom Dancer, where she competed in several Ballroom Dancing exhibitions and competitions nationally.
Preceded in death by her parents, her grandson Matthew Goodall, her daughter Eilene Thomas (Gary) and her beloved husband Norman, Sr. She is survived by her 2 daughters, Donna Goodall (Michael) and Nanette Britton (Robert, deceased); 2 sons, Armand Theodore II (Rebecca) and Norman P. Jr. In addition to her children, she is survived by 14 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren: lovingly known as Baci.
The visitation is Sunday, January 7, from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Memorial Park Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass is Monday, January 8, at 9:30 am at St. Jude Cathedral, followed by a reception at Memorial Park Funeral Home from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, with committal at 1:00 pm in the cemetery.
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