Joy C Moneuse was born in Brooklyn, New York to Charles and Pauline Ruggiero on February 8, 1929. She attended Leonia High School in Leonia, New Jersey where she was captain of the cheerleaders and met football player and high school sweetheart Paul Moneuse . Joy went on to earn a degree in Art from Mount Saint Vincent College in Yonkers, New York. She married Paul Moneuse in 1951. Joy taught art and headed the art department at East Forsyth High School in Winston Salem, NC. Joy later got her Real Estate License in Florida and worked for 10 years before she retired . Joys passions were her family, church, gardening and tennis.