Joyce J Channell

Joyce J Channell, age 77 of Plattsburgh New York passed away on January 19th 2022 at UVM Medical Center, with her family by her side.

Joyce Joan Atwood was born in Yonkers, New York, on Sept 25, 1944. She was the daughter of Ivan & Helen (Ridzik) Atwood. In 1961 the family moved to Bennington, Vermont where Joyce graduated from
Bennington Catholic High School. She then attended & graduated college in Vermont.

In 1966 Joyce Married Kenneth “Joe” Channell in Bennington, Vermont where they lived until 1967 when they moved to & settled in Plattsburgh. Together they had two children Kelly Provost and husband Jon of Waitsfield VT. & Todd Channell of Plattsburgh.

In the early 1970’s Joyce was the Executive Director of the Clinton County Homemaker Services. She was later employed by the late Harry Wolcoff in the offices of the former Stefi‘s & Beverly Pearl. She later spent 12 years as Executive Director of the Clinton County Board of Realtors. She was also a member of the Beta Sigma Phi National Sorority for Women.

Joyce was an active member of the local community and gave countless hours of volunteer service to various Committees and Boards. In the l970’s she was a member of the St. Mary’s of the Lake Parish, serving as Treasurer as well as teaching 5th grade Religion classes. She was a Team Captain and Budget Panel member of the United Way. She was an active volunteer for the Clinton County Christmas Bureau for more than 20 years. For over 40 years Joyce was a devoted volunteer at the Medical Center including
The Jr. League of CVPH where she served on the Follies Committee, Nominating Committee, Publicity Chairperson as well as the City House Tours Committee. She also served on the Auxiliary of the Medical Center as a volunteer, Treasurer, Coffee Shop Chair, Personnel Chair, Dinner at Eight Reception Chair, &
Scholarship Committee as well as both the 75th & 100th Anniversary Celebrations for the Auxiliary. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation of CVPH Medical Center, serving on the Distribution, Scholarship & Travel Fund Committees & also a member of the Medical Center Corporate Board. Included in the list of Joyce’s many accomplishments were her times spent as a volunteer for the former Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, the City of Plattsburgh Riverwalk Committee, trip coordinator for an International Paper Student trip to Washington, D.C. & having the distinct honor of being selected one of the Outstanding Women in America.

One of Joyce’s greatest joys was being a lifelong member of the Girl Scouts of America. She began her scouting career in 1951 as a Brownie in Bay Shore, Long Island. She was a Girl Scout Leader for the Brownie Juniors, Cadettes, & Seniors & in 1976 was a developer & designer for the first Brownie Badge Program for the North Country Girl Scout Council. She was on the Cookie Drive Committee, a QSP member, Board of Directors Nominating Chairperson, Program Operating Unit Chair for several Council events, including being one of the first organizers of the Lake Clear Girl Scout Camp Do-Dad weekend & a volunteer of both Lake Clear & Camp Tapawingo. Her most significant contribution was her role as volunteer Trip Coordinator, a position that she held for over 30 years. She arranged Council trips that provided a priceless service for young women of the North Country who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to travel & explore the U.S., Europe & the Soviet Union. She made it possible for girls to visit major attractions on the Eastern Seaboard, including Boston, N.Y. City, Philadelphia, Niagara Falls, Mt. Vernon, & Albany as well as numerous trips to D.C. Included were visits to Montreal, Ottawa & Toronto in Canada as well as trips to California & Hawaii. Travels abroad included visiting & touring & learning the cultures of the United Kingdom countries along with a tour of the Soviet Union in 1990.

In both the 1970’s & 1990’s Joyce was honored as a “Thanks Badge” recipient which was the highest adult award in Girl Scouts at that time.

In recent years Joyce has continued her love of travel by taking her grandchildren on many various trips to areas of the U.S. as well as Europe, including London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice, Munich, Vienna & others.

Besides her children, Joyce will be greatly missed & fondly remembered by her four grandchildren, Brady, Molly, & Riley Channell of Plattsburgh, and Ryan Perry of Vermont. She also leaves behind several nieces & nephews and many other relatives in the New England area. She was predeceased by her parents and her husband “Joe” in 2009.

At the request of the family a memorial service will be held at a later date.