Joyce Desautels Credit: Courtesy
Joyce Elaine (Guyette) Desautels, 86, of Shelburne, Vt., died on May 5, 2026, in her home, surrounded by loved ones.
She was born on April 28, 1940, in Burlington, Vt., the daughter of Alexander and Mary (Evelti) Guyette. Joyce was a proud member of the last class to graduate from Cathedral High School, the class of 1958. Joyce was a natural leader early on and served as a class officer and majorette captain and was selected for Girls State, where she was elected governor. At Cathedral, Joyce was crowned prom queen, and her high school sweetheart, Robert “Bob” Desautels, was prom king.
Bob and Joyce were married at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Burlington on September 18, 1960. During the early years of their marriage, Joyce supported Bob while he pursued his college degree and launched his career. Bob’s career took them out of Vermont to Massachusetts and Connecticut. In each location they lived, Joyce nurtured their growing family and created a love-filled home. Bob and Joyce eventually returned to Vermont, the state they loved, and Bob launched his own businesses. Throughout Bob’s career Joyce remained his steadfast sounding board.
Joyce devoted her life selflessly to her siblings, children and extended family. She will be forever remembered as a devoted and generous daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved hosting parties and celebrations and opened her home to many family and friends over the years. Bob and Joyce’s Thanksgiving and Fourth of July parties on Brookes Avenue for the Desautels and Guyette families were legendary. She had a distinctive eye for beauty, as evidenced in her interior-decorating skills. She took up painting in her seventies and uncovered a real talent. She enjoyed singing, dancing and fashion. She beamed in the presence of babies and children. Trees, flowers, gardens, birds and butterflies brought her joy. She was a loving mother, not only to her four children but also to all their friends. She welcomed all to the dinner table, to swim in the pool in the summer and to ice-skate on it in the winter. Joyce embraced life and all it offered and led with love, laughter and care.
Joyce had a fantastic sense of humor and a quick wit. She loved a good practical joke and had an uncanny ability to often outwit the practical joker. She was a problem solver and the go-to for family and friends who needed to talk. Her heart was open and ready to listen to you and help. She was values-driven and did not back down when it came to her morals. She fought for fairness and stood up for what and who she believed in. She often shared the story of marching in front of the Burlington Boys Club as a young girl with a sign saying, “No Fair, No Girls.” She was a trailblazer for equality and fairness. She became involved in Burlington politics and served on the Board of Aldermen in the ’70s and early ’80s. She also served as the first female president of the Board of Aldermen.
Joyce is survived by her husband, Robert “Bob” Desautels, the love of her life for 71 years; her four children, Robert “Rob” Desautels and his wife, Michelle of Williston, Vt., Daniel “Dan” Desautels and his wife, Beth, of Shelburne, Vt., Mary Desautels of Shelburne, and Kristin (Desautels) Jarvis and her husband, Chris Jarvis, of South Burlington, Vt.; seven grandchildren, Stephanie Desautels, Lindsie Barone, Annie Rose Desautels, Emma Jarvis, Sawyer Jarvis, Grace Jarvis and Aiden Desautels; and five great-grandchildren, Ava Desautels, Jack Barone, Zander Barone, Harlee Barone and Gwenna Desautels. Joyce is also survived by her brother Alexander J. Guyette and his wife, Barbara; sister Therese and her husband, Dave Burrell; sister Linda and her husband, Walter Gundel; sister-in-law Jane Guyette; sister Carolyn Clark; and brother Mark Guyette and his wife, Connie. Joyce is also survived by Bob’s siblings and their spouses, Gerald and Andi Desautels, Ed and Colette Desautels, and Jane and Rick Dall. She leaves many loving cousins, godchildren, nieces and nephews. Joyce was predeceased by her parents, Alexander J Guyette Sr. and Mary (Evelti) Guyette; Bob’s parents, Raymond and Madeline (Mahoney) Desautels; her infant sister, Marilyn Guyette; brother-in-law John Clark; and brother Bill Guyette.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Joyce’s caretakers, Jamie Broomfield, Dawn Klein, Heidi Karic and Hannah Leavitt. Your love and care of Joyce was beautiful. We are very blessed by each of you.
Visiting hours will be on Sunday, May 10, 2026, 4 to 6 p.m., at Ready Funeral Services, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT. A Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration will be held on Monday, May 11, 2026, 11 a.m., at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 72 Church St., Shelburne, VT. Burial will follow at Resurrection Park Cemetery, 200 Hinesburg Rd., South Burlington, VT. A Celebration of Life luncheon will follow at Delta Hotels Burlington, 1117 Williston Rd., South Burlington.
In lieu of flowers, Joyce’s family is establishing a scholarship in her name at the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington (bandgcclub.org/online-donation-form).
Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.
