CANTERBURY - Joyce Burbank Alexander, 83, of Canterbury, passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at the Concord Hospital after a brief period of illness. Joyce Isabelle Burbank was born on April 6, 1931, in Dalton, to Bliss L. and Edith L. Burbank. She graduated from Lancaster Academy in 1949. She trained at the New Hampshire State Hospital as an RN and worked there for 39 years until her retirement. It was there she met her husband, Bruce E. Alexander. They married on Sept. 4, 1965. She was not afraid of challenges in later life: she earned a bachelor's of science in psychology and sociology from New England College in 1986 (at the age of 55), learned to drive at the age of 70, and bravely faced cancer twice. She was predeceased by her parents and, in 1999, by her husband, Bruce. She is survived by a sister, Mary L. Smith, of Lancaster; a brother, Jon A. Burbank, of Hebron; a sister-in-law, Patricia L. Alexander, of St. Albans, Vt.; nieces and nephews, in whose accomplishments she always delighted; and grandnieces and grandephews. Her retirement years were enlivened considerably by travels with her friend, Barbara Sullivan. . SERVICES: Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Tuesday, March 31, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Bennett Funeral Home in Concord. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 1, at 10 a.m., at St. John the Evangelist Church in Concord. Burial will be held in the spring in Maple Grove Cemetery, Canterbury. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church (Rebuilding Fund), P.O. Box 278, Londonderry, VT 05155. The Bennett Funeral Home of Concord is in charge of the arrangements. Messages of condolences may be offered at www.bennettfuneral.com.