Lucy Lee Joyce Idol

Lucy Lee Joyce Idol, founder of the Lucy Idol Center, passed away peacefully at her home in Vermilion on Saturday, April 2, 2011. Lucy had celebrated her 90th birthday on October 12, 2010 at a party held in her honor at the Lucy Idol Center. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in Winston Salem, North Carolina where she met her husband, Swift Cooper Idol. They had four children, Carol, Bob, Joyce and Martha. The family moved to Vermilion in 1950 where Lucy taught kindergarten and began her lifelong advocacy for severely challenged and profoundly disabled individuals. She founded the Lucy Idol Center in 1954 and worked tirelessly to make it into the pioneering day treatment program that it is today. She will always be remembered as a compassionate, generous and loving friend to all who were privileged to know her. She was preceded in death by her husband Swift in 1969, son Robert in 1996, sister Beryl Joyce, brother Alvin Joyce, and her parents Elkana Turner and Lucy Comer Joyce. She is survived by her daughters, Carol Peck of Huron, Joyce Bryan of Corvallis, Oregon, and Martha Huber of Vermilion; her sons-in-law Jerry Bryan and Kurt Huber; her grandchildren, Tad Peck and his wife Lori, Tara Tymer, Michelle Appleton, Joe and Martha Bryan, step-grandchildren Katie and Eric Huber; her great grandchildren, Preston , Kristen, Taylor and Corey . A Celebration of Life to honor Lucy will be held at the Lucy Idol Center, 435 Nicholson Ave., Vermilion on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 2:00 PM. The family suggests memorial contributions go to the Lucy Idol Center at PO Box 162, Vermilion, Ohio 44089, or the Lucy Idol Endowment Fund managed by the Lorain County Community Foundation, 1865 N. Ridge Rd. East, Lorain, Ohio 44055-3300 .