Saratoga Springs, NY - Joyce Nixon Cole, 70, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at Saratoga Hospital, surrounded by her immediate family. Born on April 11, 1943 in Troy, NY, she was the first child of the late Charles and Edith (Abel) Nixon. One of her greatest joys in life was meeting her husband, Lester, while on vacation with her friends to the Bahamas, in her late twenties. They always joked about how her friends all drew straws to say hi to Lester and how she drew the short straw, and had to go say "hi"! They never realized he was from Saratoga Springs, and she from Lansingburgh, and how they would be married for 39 years. Joyce loved to spend time with her grandkids. She also loved to travel with her husband, especially to Maine. She worked for the NY State DOT for 17 years and the Saratoga Springs City School District for 15 years. Joyce was an active member of Saratoga-Wilton B.P.O. Elks Lodge #161 and a long-time member and currently serving as treasurer of the Saratoga-Wilton Elks 161 Ladies Auxiliary. Survivors include her husband Lester F. Cole, Jr.; their children, Michael Charles (Meaghan) Cole and Kimberly Ann Cole (Dale Post, special friend); grandchildren Johnathan Michael Cole, Emily Cynthia Ann Cole, Christopher Cole, Kassandra Cole-Post and Nicholas Cole; her sister, Dianne (Richard) Carley and her brother George (Susan) Nixon; sister-in-law Lanita (Schuyler) Cunniff and many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Alfred (Christine) Nixon. Relatives and friends may call from 5 to 7pm Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway 584-5373. Members of Saratoga-Wilton Elks Ladies Auxiliary will meet at 5:45pm Wednesday at the funeral home for services and members of Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge 161will meet at 6pm for their ritual. Funeral services will be conducted at 10am Thursday, May 16, 2013 at the funeral home and burial will follow in the family plot at St. Peter's Cemetery, West Ave. Memorial donations may be made in her name to the American Diabetes Assoc., 2 Pine West Plaza, Washington Ave. Ext., Suite 204, Albany, NY 12205. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.