Joyce Anne (Ford) Portner, 56 of Manchester NH, formerly of Londonderry, NH and Townsend, MA, died Monday, April 7, 2008 in her home due to an illness. Mrs. Portner was born in Cambridge, MA on November 19, 1951, a daughter of the late Clifford and Eleanor (Cross) Ford.
She was employed at Elliot Hospital in Manchester and was a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Manchester. She loved her friends and her family and was so grateful for the love and support she received during her lifetime. Most important to her was spending time with her children and her grandchildren, Peter and Julia, who affectionately called her "Nan" and "Nee".
She is survived by one daughter, Shane Koumrian and her husband Timothy of Sunapee, NH; one son, Joshua Portner and his fiancé Jessica Bedard of Coventry, RI; two grandchildren and two sisters, Janet Cote of Ashby, MA and Judith Cole of Lowell, MA. Also surviving are nine nieces and six nephews, a godson, Shawn Hogan and her "little sister " Marlise.
Private graveside services were held at Hillside Cemetery in Townsend, MA on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 1:00 PM. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Grace Episcopal Church, 106 Lowell St., Manchester. Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry, NH is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manchester, 25 Lowell Street, Suite 201, Manchester, NH, 01301 or the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Fund, Massachusetts Affiliate, PO Box 845037, Boston, MA 02284-5037.