For Edward and Joyce Sheehan, love has always been their guiding light. Married for 60 years, their bond continues to flourish through life's joys and challenges, strengthening their love for one another at every turn. But for the past month, they have been apart—each receiving care at different healthcare facilities, missing the presence of their lifelong partner.
That changed this week when Tufts Medicine Care at Home’s High Pointe House became the setting for their long-awaited reunion. Recognizing the deep comfort their presence brings to one another; the hospice care team went above and beyond to make special arrangements; clearing space in Ed’s suite for a second patient bed so Joyce could join him.
“We could see how much they needed to be together,” said Eric Redard, director of supportive care and High Pointe House operations at Care at Home. “Hospice is about dignity and comfort, and sometimes, the greatest gift is simply being with your loved ones. Our goal is to ensure that people feel cared for, surrounded by their loved ones and able to experience peace.”
Now, side by side once more, Ed and Joyce share the same space, surrounded by the love they have built over more than 6 decades. Their love story began in Lawrence, MA, when Joyce enrolled at Bryant-McIntosh Business School, where Ed’s father was an administrator, and his sister taught typing. Seeing the potential for a perfect match, Ed’s sister set them up on a date. But their love story almost didn’t begin—on January 26, 1962, the day of their first date, Joyce was in a car accident with her mother and had to be checked at the hospital. Ed, thinking she had stood him up, left—only to return later when Joyce’s sister explained what had happened. That night, they went bowling and their journey together officially began.
Through the years, their partnership has been filled with love, laughter and adventure. Ed, a banker, and Joyce, who worked in payroll for a local builder, built a beautiful life in the Merrimack Valley. They raised four children—Karen, Tom, Colleen and Glenn—and have been blessed with 13 grandchildren, ranging in age from 14 to 36.
One of their greatest joys has been their winters spent in Florida. True Disney fanatics, they first stayed in Clearwater and made weekly trips to the parks. Eventually, they moved their home base to Kissimmee, where their visits to the parks became even more frequent—up to four times per week. Walking four to six miles a day, they made a ritual of stopping at Starbucks in Epcot before heading straight for Test Track. When asked how they could visit Disney so often, they always responded with a playful, “How could you not?!” More than anything, they have cherished the space their vacation spot has provided for their children and grandchildren to visit, creating treasured memories together.
Ed, with his lovable yet stubborn nature, dry humor, and caring heart, always puts Joyce first—often saying, “Whatever she wants.” And Joyce, ever upbeat and optimistic, brings lightness and laughter into every room. They are each other’s perfect balance, complementing one another’s strengths and embracing life with generosity, warmth, and an unwavering devotion to family.
As their family gathers around them now, their love story continues. They share quiet moments—filled with a lifetime of love, laughter and the unspoken understanding that has defined their marriage.
“They built a love that was about more than just the two of them,” shared their daughter, Colleen Grecco. “It extends to all of us—our whole family, and even the people they have met along the way.”
Their journey together is a testament to a lifetime of love, commitment and shared moments that will be cherished by all who know them.
