Joyce M. Hodge

October 26, 1943 - October 25, 2025

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Obituary for Joyce M. Hodge

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Joyce Mertice Hodge, a loving mother, a remarkable woman, and a compassionate human being. Joyce’s courageous battle with congestive heart failure and arthritis came to an end on October 25, 2025, the eve of her 82nd birthday.

Joyce, daughter of Ethel Brantley and Hillard Fontaine, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 26, 1943. She moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1964. Shortly thereafter, she made Columbia Point her home. It is within this tight-knit community of families and friends that she raised 9 children—Henry Hodge, Asha Enam, Aaron Hodge, Kevin Mathis, Catherine Hodge, Joyce Hodge, Van Hodge, Schanna James, and Candice Jacobs-Rector.

Joyce was a hardworking, supportive, and dedicated mother. She always worked two jobs, and she still made time to be there for her children through the many passions, endeavors, and difficulties of their lives. Whether that was being in the delivery room for the births of grandchildren, showing up to a son’s house with furniture and groceries, sitting front row at a son’s play, cheering the loudest at a daughter’s talent show, carrying a TV and care packages to a son via public transportation, picking up their children after work, flying to another country for a daughter’s wedding, or beaming proudly at a daughter’s graduation, Joyce supported her children with love, compassion, and generosity.

Joyce adored her grandchildren and showered them with the same love, compassion, and generosity that she showed her children. Whether she was keeping an eye on them until their parents returned, playing Connect Four with them, refereeing wrestling matches for control of the TV remote, taking them to the park for a game of basketball, listening to them talk about their goals and aspirations, watching a Lord of the Rings movie marathon, or making sure the house was well-stocked with Barbie dolls and toy trains, Joyce found a way to bring joy to her grandchildren’s lives and her grandchildren definitely brought joy to her life.

Joyce was intelligent. When she wasn’t caring for her children and grandchildren, Joyce was working. She was always striving to give herself and her children better lives. After establishing a home for her family in Columbia Point, she was hired to work at a local laundry company. Some of her other day jobs included working for a neighborhood human service organization and working at South Boston High School during busing. At night she worked at the First National Bank of Boston. Though she would eventually retire from a full-time job in the banking industry, she continued to show up for her second job at the Pine Street Inn’s Women’s Inn. She enjoyed working at the Pine Street Inn and she performed her duties with empathy and compassion.

Joyce was beautiful, charismatic, and charming. She had a passion for fashion and she loved sewing, reading good books, cooking, watching movies, taking pictures of others, listening to music, and dancing. She could often be found reading a novel, filling her home with the smell of freshly baked bread pudding, or getting ready for a night out in the town with her best friend, Mary Nunes.

Joyce’s memory will be forever cherished by her family, friends, and colleagues. Her legacy will endure, and her spirit will continue to inspire us all. In our hearts, she lives on, and we will forever honor the legacy of a remarkable woman who made a lasting impact on everyone she encountered. She will be deeply missed by all who have had the privilege of knowing her.

Joyce was predeceased by her parents, her sons Kevin, Aaron, and Henry, and her best friend, Mary Nunes. She is survived by her six children: Asha, Catherine, Joyce, Van, Schanna, and Candice, her many siblings, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren and daughters-in-law Ebony and Lisa.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate, a cause close to Joyce’s heart.

Visitation will be held at the Dolan Funeral Home, 1140 Washington Street, DORCHESTER LOWER MILLS on Wednesday, November 12th from 11AM - 1PM. Funeral Service to begin at 1PM. Relatives and friends invited. Interment Private.

Services

12 Nov

Visitation

11:00 AM - 01:00 PM

Dolan Funeral Homes and Cremation Services- DORCHESTER LOWER MILLS 1140 Washington Street Dorchester, MA 02124 Get Directions »
12 Nov

Funeral Service

01:00 PM - 02:00 PM

Dolan Funeral Homes and Cremation Services- DORCHESTER LOWER MILLS 1140 Washington Street Dorchester, MA 02124 Get Directions »
by Obituary Assistant

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Condolences

  • November 21, 2025

    Reshon

    I just want to say this woman right here She dint play when she say quiet at the shelter I was in she became my friend my Mom what ever I'm gonna miss you so much Tell my family hello and I love you all The Celester Family

  • November 12, 2025

    Linda Thompson

    My deepest sympathy for the Hodge Family. I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and the family. May God continue to give you peace and understanding during this difficult time. May the Lord continue to bless and keep you.

  • November 12, 2025

    Karen Holland (Sister of Nat, Tim, Leo, and Warren)

    I want to extend my fondest memories of a woman who I remember being not just a mother to her own children but one of many in Columbia Point Projects as we filed out of school at the Paul A Dever waiting for her own children and directing others where their mothers were in the crowd of parents/siblings waiting. Thank you for for being amongst the Queens of that day in time, that it took to watch over the village of us. May the spirit of JEHOVAH be with your family during this time of bereavement and they find support in the private, precious, and fond memories beheld.

  • November 12, 2025

    Angela Woods

    My condolences to the Hodge family from Viola Woods Anthony Woods Angela Woods and kids. Sending love and prayers 🙏 ❤️

  • November 11, 2025

    Doryce Haskins Darden

    My deepest and sincere condolences. You will forever live on in our hearts. Thank you for all the love and care you given me and my siblings over the years. Sleep in heavenly peace

  • November 08, 2025

    Tony Sullivan

    My deepest condolences 🌹 Wishing the family peace & comfort during this difficult time 🕊

  • November 06, 2025

    Bev

    Prayers and condolences to the family!! Bev

  • November 05, 2025

    Reshon Starkes Celester

    You are the best Happy birthday Gif hit the best thing that happened to me

  • November 05, 2025

    Reshon Starkes Celester

    I was one of her daughters that she talked about all the time she used to definitely gonna b missed on my side Pine st got me were I'm at know home thank you miss Joyce I did it

  • November 02, 2025

    Charmaine Lloyd

    IN MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED SISTER JOYCE SHE RAN THE RACE SHE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT AS HER SOUL WAS REQUIRED OF JESUS THAT NIGHT. JESUS SAID JOYCE COME UNTO ME AND SEE THE PLACE I HAVE PREPARED FOR THEE. AS ANGLES OF LOVE SURROUNDED HER BED SHE HEARD MOMMY AND AUNT LEONA SAY JOYCE IT IS GOING TO BE OK. JOYCE KNEW HOW BLESS SHE WAS WHEN JESUS REUNITED HER WITH HER 2 SONS. HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY MOM SHE HEARD THEM SAY. THEY CELEBRATED HER BIRTHDAY THE VERY NEXT DAY. AS FOR ME MYSELF I FEEL FINE CAUSE I KNOW OUR SISTER IS SAFE IN JESUS LOVING ARMS. MISS HER ALOT WE ALL DO CAUSE WE LOVE JOYCE BUT JESUS LOVES HER TOO. COMFORT TO OUR FAMILY LOVE SNOOKIE

  • October 30, 2025

    Darrell Moore

    Wishing the Hodge Family much peace, hope, and love. May each of you come together at this monumental time to show family solidarity. Agape Love Big Moe & Moore's Family

  • October 29, 2025

    Asha Enam

    Dear Mom, You will forever be my first teacher — the one who showed me what it means to love and to have compassion for others. I will miss your softness, especially your voice, which never once rose in anger toward anyone. As I age gracefully, I see more and more of you in myself — and I take great comfort in that. I love you knowing that your veil has been lifted to the unknown, but I also know that your spirit will live on through your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and generations to come. May the loving spirit of God continue to shine through each and every day. I always wished I knew your story more deeply — how you came to be such an amazing, gentle, and strong woman. Know that I love you with all my being. You are at peace now, and I am forever grateful to have been raised by such a woman. Fly high, lady. With love always, Your Eldest Daughter Asha D. Enam (Jeanette "Nettie" Hodge)