DOVER - Judith Ann Canning Lovett (Joyce Anita Long), devoted daughter of the late Anna Loughery Canning and the late Richard Francis Canning of Rhode Island, the late Patricia Long Strickler and the late John Dombrowski of Pennsylvania, died July 14, 2016 in Dover. Born in West Hartford, Connecticut at St. Agnes Home, an orphanage, where she spent her first 13 months. Upon her adoption, she moved to Rhode Island and lived there until the age of 21, marrying the love of her life, Michael Peter Lovett. This began 26 years, three in the Army, including Vietnam and 23 in the Coast Guard, where Mike's career as a search and rescue helicoper pilot took them to many wonderful places. Most US states were visited including Hawaii and living on Kodiak Island, Alaska. The three joys in her life were Pamela Wade, Maureen Lovett and Julie Roche, her daughters. She leaves a son-in-law, James Roche and a daughter-in-law, Hilary Mueller who she deeply loved. Five grandchildren, Benjamin Wade, Michael Wade (twins), Patrick Roche, Christopher Roche and Julianna Roche. Finding any words to describe what they meant to her is impossible and have not been invented. Needless to say they meant more to her than life and hope and pray they remember her with love. She will watch over them forever. She loved music, playing a piano played by her mother and father. Gardening was more than a hobby, caring for flowers etc. and seeing the garden and the yard bloom and flourish at the place finally called home in Dover. Roses were a favorite and thought God did a particularly great job on them. Her favorite color was blue, soothing and tranquil, a good cook and a comfortable home. Homeless Golden Retrievers found a home with her and Mike, got them on their feet and into a happy existence, laughed, played, worried over them and hoped their lives were happy, as happy as they left them. While volunteering for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) she found the cases heartbreaking but a great gift. The children and adolescents were always a blessing to work with and she hoped their lives would be strengthened as they learned to live in a difficult world. They were always in her prayers and she thought of them often. Working on adoption laws and changing antiquated laws for adopter was paramount in her life. Knowing adoptees were to have the right to their original birth certificates was beyond satisfying. She herself, had her original birth certificate and finding her birth mother opened a new door and helped heal past pain and answered many questions. Nothing beats knowing who you are, always loved, missed and thought of. Another cause was sexually abused children and adults. Helping to support victims and their families was dear to her heart. Working for and seeing Delaware become the first state to implement the unencumbered law for sexual abuse victims to take their predator to court was a high point in her life. Friends were her backbone and support especially those who she could share her faith in Christ with. Studying her faith, searching for answers was ongoing....finding Jesus at the end of any question. Married for 54 years, she met Mike when she was 15 and he was 16. In many ways, it seems like yesterday, still teenagers and madly in love and were the only people in the world. He was her world. Life is a joy....laughter a gift and should be opened often. Good friends are to be kept at all costs....laugh, love, live.... A mass of Christian burial will be held 12 p.m., Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at Holy Cross Catholic Church where friends may call from 10 a.m. until service time. Please no flowers. send some to someone you love. Letters of condolences may be sent and guest book signed at www.torbertfuneral.com.