Joyce Marie Cavanaugh, 88, of Salem, NH passed away on Sunday, February 11, 2018 at the Carlyle Place, Bedford, NH. She was born in Portsmouth, NH, a daughter of the late Joseph and Frances (Hooper) Carter.

Mrs. Cavanaugh was educated in Portsmouth schools and graduated Portsmouth High School, class of 1947. She went to work for the ship yard PX and that's where she met her husband William J. Cavanaugh. They were married and she became a proud Navy wife, together they lived all up and down the Eastern seaboard and California. Mrs. Cavanaugh was a communicant of Mary Queen of Peace, her faith and religion was very important to her. She always put everyone else's needs before her own making her a very beloved person and she touched many people's lives. She was the Ambassador of Carlyle Place, enjoyed current events, music, reading, animals, being a practical joker and she loved life. Mrs. Cavanaugh was very involved in her grandchildren's lives and was a lot of love in a small package. "I met a new friend today," she was known to say often.

She is survived by her son; William "Billy" J. Cavanaugh and his significant other Doreen Palmer of Manchester, NH, three grandchildren; Margaret Cavanaugh of Manchester, Elizabeth Marshall and her husband Philip of Eliot, ME and Mary Kate Cavanaugh of Manchester, by three great-grandchildren; Nolan Cavanaugh, Orson Marshall and Angalina Marshall and is also survived by nieces and nephews and her good friend; Kathy Cavanaugh. She was predeceased by her husband of 61 years; William J. Cavanaugh in 2011, her son; Kenneth Carter Cavanaugh, her daughter; Marion Cavanaugh and by two brothers; Raymond McDonough and Casey Carter.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday, February 15, 2018 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm in the Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St., Salem. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 10:30am in Mary Queen of Peace Church, 200 Lawrence Rd., Salem. Burial will be held Friday at 2:00pm in the NH State Veteran Cemetery Chapel, 110 DW Highway, Boscawen, NH. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Saints Mary & Joseph Food Pantry, 200 Lawrence Rd., Salem, NH 03079 or to Salem Animal Rescue League, 4 SARL Dr., Salem, NH 03079.