Joy C. Rea

Joy C. Rea, age 75 years, passed away on November 5, 2023, at her residence. She was born on March 12, 1948, in The Samaritan Hospital, Troy, N.Y. and is the daughter of the late Harry T. and Marion L. (Hansen) Nielson. Besides her parents, she is predeceased by her loving husband Noel H. Rea on October 28, 1978. Joy graduated from Coxsackie-Athens Central School in 1966. Received a bachelor’s degree in music from SUNY Fredonia and proceeded to earn a master’s in education at SUNY New Paltz. Joy married her beloved husband Noel H. Rea on January 17, 1970. Joy became the teacher at the Saugerties Montessori School and later the owner of the school. From 1991 -2012 Joy taught at the Coxsackie Correctional and Greene Correctional Institutions. Joy was a determined athlete. Through the 80’s and early 90s, she was the director of the children’s ski schools at Windham Ski Center and Jiminy Peak Ski Resort. She ran to New York City marathon, participated in many triathlons, and raced canoes on a national level; winning the national canoeing championship in the late 80’s. She helped found the program to care for the feral cats at the Coxsackie Correctional Facility, being involved in their trap, neuter, and release program. Joy was a loving mother and grandmother – her grandsons were the joy of her life. She also loved animals, especially cats and she adopted many over the years. Her best friends are currently Lucy, Ella and Diamond. Survivors include her two siblings Gary T. Nielsen of Lockport, NY and Kim W. Rogers (Philip) of Fort Johnson, NY, her two children -Lance N. Rea (Kate) of Nashville, Tennessee, Heather L. Rea (Chris Raimo) of Toms River, New Jersey, her two grandsons – Liam N. Rea of Stonybrook, NY and Toby W. Rea of Nashville, Tennessee, her three nieces- April Benson (Jeb) of Arvada, Colorado, Erin Richardson (Patrick) of Bow, New Hampshire and Nina Rogers (Danielle) of Scotia, NY, her three nephews- Nathan Nielsen (Jackie) of Leeds, Maine; Stanley Chesebro (Lyndsai) of Fultonville, NY and Benjamin Rogers (Kasha) of Selkirk, NY. Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at The W.C. Brady’s Sons, Inc. Funeral Home, 97 Mansion Street, Coxsackie, N.Y., 12051, from 12:00 Noon – 2:00 P.M. Arrangements are under the care of the W.C. Brady’s Sons, Inc. Funeral Home, Coxsackie, N.Y. Since Joy had such a love for animals, donations in her memory may be made to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, 111 Humane Society Road, Hudson, New York, 12534. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.wcbradyssonsinc.net.

Joy C. Rea

March 12, 1948 - November 5, 2023