Joyce Linda Reamy - Obituary

oyce "Joy" Linda Reamy, a longtime Annapolis resident whose warmth, curiosity and genuine enjoyment of people touched generations of family, friends, neighbors and library patrons, passed away on August 9, 2026. She was 82. Born October 18, 1943, in Alexandria, Virginia, Joy came from a family with deep roots in the region where her grandfather led the historic renovation of Woodlawn Plantation. Her family later settled in Maryland, where she grew up alongside her twin brother, Rodney. It was Rodney who would change the course of Joy's life when he introduced her to her future husband, Michael J. Reamy, while the two young men were working at a local drive-in. That introduction began a lifelong love story that endured until Michael's passing in 2019. Joy began her professional career in 1961 with the Federal Government in Washington DC, through 1966. She then devoted herself to raising her two sons, Michael Jr. and Mark. During those years, she was an active presence in their schools, participating in the PTA and volunteering wherever she was needed. In 1986, with her sons older, Joy returned to the workforce as an office administrator with Long & Foster Real Estate in Annapolis. Her broker encouraged her to obtain her real estate license due to her outgoing personality and natural ability to connect with people. She did so in 1988 and, after completing an impressive 14 transactions, was named Rookie of the Year in 1989. After a great success, Joy wanted to become more involved in community service. In 1989, she joined the Annapolis Public Library on West Street, beginning what would become the longest and most rewarding chapter of her professional life. For the next 23 years, she was a public face of the library where her natural warmth, curiosity and love of conversation made her a loved and welcoming presence to countless members of the Annapolis community. She retired in 2012. Joy delighted in conversation and treasured the company of her many girlfriends, friends and neighbors. She possessed an inquisitive mind and an enduring curiosity about the world around her. She loved crossword puzzles, puzzles of all kinds, trivia and keeping up with current events, and she was rarely without an opinion or something interesting to discuss. She was a devoted Elvis Presley fan, enjoyed classic television, mysteries, courtroom and crime dramas, But she most appreciated life's simple pleasures—a decadent chocolate, engaging conversation and the comfort of familiar routines with loved ones. Joy was also a woman of conviction. Throughout her life, she believed strongly in freedom, equality and civil rights and approached others with an open mind and compassion. Those values were an important part of who she was and the example she set for her family. For nearly 50 years, Joy and her family called Annapolis' Rolling Hills neighborhood home, a close-knit community where most families remained in the same homes for decades. Her neighbors became lifelong friends, and those relationships were among the great constants of her life. Over the past few years, Joy made her home at Brightview Assisted Living in Annapolis, where her lifelong ability to make connections continued. She enjoyed the many activities and new friendships she found there, along with a favorite weekly ritual: Bingo with her loyal friend and neighbor, Karen as well as so many others who loved and cared for her. Above all, Joy was devoted to her family. She was predeceased by her husband, Michael J. Reamy, who passed away in 2019. She is survived by her twin brother, Rodney, of Jupiter, Florida; her oldest son, Michael J. Reamy Jr., of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and his spouse, Andres Tremols; and her younger son, Mark S. Reamy, of Edgewater, Maryland, and his spouse, Donna Reamy. She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Jacob Reamy, Joseph Reamy and Jordan Zotto, as well as the much-loved friends and neighbors whose lives became intertwined with hers over the decades. A Celebration of Life will take place in late September, with details to be shared with family and friends as arrangements are finalized. Joy will be remembered for her curiosity, her independent spirit, her gift for conversation and her devotion to family and friends—but perhaps most of all, for being the rock upon which her husband and sons could always depend. For those fortunate enough to know her, there was only one Joy—and she leaves behind a lifetime of stories, laughter and memories. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.