Joyce Gildea, cancer group aide, dies at 65

JOYCE GILDEA had one simple formula for dealing with the emotional impact of working with breast cancer patients: Don't lose your sense of humor.

"In fact," she said, "nurture it by doing things and being with people who make you laugh. Let people into your life and let them love you back."

Joyce put her philosophy to work as a longtime volunteer with Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a nonprofit that provides education and support to those with the disease and their families.

Joyce Ann Gildea, a former analyst with the National Security Administration, a communications specialist and human resources consultant for a prominent New York and Philadelphia health-care consulting firm, and founder of her own health-care communications business, died of cancer March 18. She was 65 and lived in Gladwyne.

In 1981, she established her business, the Editorial Office, where she served as a medical writer and editor and health-care consultant.

In 1997, she became a volunteer with Living Beyond Breast Cancer. She helped comfort and educate women through the group's Survivors' Helpline.

"She provided a safe way for callers to vent their feelings and spoke one-on-one with other women with breast cancer," her family wrote.

She also helped the organization set up conferences and workshops.

The group honored her in 2005 for her contributions and leadership.

The former Joyce Asher was a graduate of Hood College, in Frederick, Md., and joined the National Security Administration soon after graduation.

It was there that she met her husband, Francis X. Gildea.

She worked 15 years for Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby, the consulting firm, at its offices in New York and Philadelphia.

She and her husband moved from their former home in Radnor to the Waverly Heights retirement community in Gladwyne.

She became a member of the staff of the Waverly Window, the community's newsletter in which she entertained fellow residents with her glib writing style and sense of fun.

Besides her husband, she is survived by a son, Cameron.

Services: Were Sunday.

Contributions may be made to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, 354 W. Lancaster Ave., Suite 224, Haverford PA 19041.