Joyce Parry

Joyce Sandra Parry was welcomed into heaven on the morning of August 15, 2023.  She was born, with her twin sister following four minutes later, on March 19, 1953 to Virgil and Lucille Parry.  She weighed only 2 pounds, 13 ½ ounces! They joined an older brother, Dennis.

She was born with cerebral palsy and attended Crippled Children’s School (she didn’t like that name!} from kindergarten through her senior year.  She developed some of her independent and stubborn spirit there, such as calling an ambulance herself when she said staff did not believe she was sick.  She really was!  Also, she was not opposed to doing a few stunts or being vocal about her situation if she felt staff were not doing their job.  

She later lived in several facilities, including nursing homes, foster homes, and spent a year split between Sanford and Avera Hospitals because there was no other place to live.  She attended Augustana College, then finally she lived in her own apartment with her sister, friends, and caregivers helping her.

Joyce was an advocate for people with disabilities.  She served on several local and state boards to give them her perspective and to aid in making changes.  She was instrumental in starting Para-transit in Sioux Falls.

She was a kind person, often thinking about her caregivers and giving them small gifts for holidays.
Her life was filled with much pain; many many surgeries, and lots of time spent in the hospital.  She could not walk or feed herself.  Yet this did not define her.

She loved collecting dolls, listening to music, her pet cats and wrote poetry.  She had a sense of humor and had many long friendships.  Her twin sister Jan meant the world to her and Jan provided much care for her.

Joyce will be missed by her twin sister, Jan Parry (Brandon, SD), her brother Dennis (Bonnie) Parry and their sons Chad & Curt (Rockford, IL,) friends and staff who cared for her.
Already deceased are her parents, Virgil and Lucille Parry, and a brother, David.

Her memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 26, at 2 pm at Bethany Home, 3012 E Aspen, Brandon, SD