Joyce Mettelman died peacefully at her home in Naples, Florida, on July 22, 2026. She was 95.

Joyce was born in 1931 in Utica, New York, to Morris and Anna (Cohen) Solomon, both of whom came to the United States with their families from Russia after fleeing the pogroms of the early twentieth century. Raised in the Jewish faith, she began in the Orthodox tradition and later embraced Conservative Judaism.

During World War II, when many teachers were serving in the military, Joyce taught Sunday school at Temple Beth-El. She graduated as salutatorian from Utica Free Academy in 1948 and went on to earn a degree in English from Vassar College, graduating cum laude in 1952.

Joyce married Arthur Mettelman in 1952, and they shared a loving marriage for nearly six decades until his death in 2010 from complications of kidney disease.

Throughout her life, Joyce was an avid reader, poet, artist, and lover of the arts. She enjoyed skiing, tennis, fishing, gardening, and especially traveling.

She served as president of the Council of Jewish Women and was instrumental in helping establish the Head Start program at Utica State Hospital. She later worked in public relations for the Central New York Community Arts Council and Hamilton/Kirkland College, where she served as a development officer. In addition, she served for two years on the board of Sculpture Space.

After retiring to Naples, Joyce immersed herself in the arts community. She was active in the Naples Cultural Alliance and studied with artists including Lisa Wightman, and Genie Keller. Her work included watercolor, papermaking, book arts, collage, and mixed-media creations.

Joyce’s poetry appeared in numerous literary magazines, and she self-published a collection titled The Poems of Fishing. In 2021, she published a second collection, A Poet Walks Through a Pandemic…

Joyce was also a dedicated member of the International Women’s Writing Guild, attending conferences at Skidmore College and workshops in Connecticut. In her nineties, she joined a poetry circle and continued writing, eventually completing more than ninety poems.

She leaves behind her children, Michael Mettelman (Dr. Barbara Mettelman), Edward Mettelman (Carol Ricci), and Diane Mettelman (Tammy Chew); her grandchildren, Claudia Grisanti (Alex) and Max Dostal Mettelman; her sister-in-law, Zelda Solomon; and numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Joyce will be remembered for her curiosity, creativity, generosity, and unwavering belief that a life well lived is one filled with learning, beauty, and love. Through her writing, her art, and the lives she touched, she leaves a legacy that will continue to inspire her family and all who knew her.

A virtual Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a future date. If you’d like to make a donation in her honor, Doctors without Borders www.doctorswithoutborders.org  and Avow Hospice www.avowcares.org were her favorite charitable organizations

Arrangements are with The Matt Funeral Home, Utica, NY

Online memorials at www.MattFuneralHome.com