IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Mary Ellen
Joyce
August 13, 1925 – April 1, 2011
Obituary
Mary Ellen Joyce, 621 Leona St., Sharpsville, passed away peacefully early Friday morning, April 1, 2011, in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System. She was 85.
Mrs. Joyce was born August 13, 1925 in Sharon a daughter of the late Peter and Julia McCarthy Miller, who both died when Mrs. Joyce was 15 years of age. She survived and excelled with the love and support of her two older teenage siblings, the late Julianne (Miller) Stanton, and a brother, the late William Miller.
She graduated in 1942 from Sharon High School, where she served as class officer and editor of the school literary magazine, beginning a long love affair with writing. She shared this love in frequent cards and letters to family and friends, and she often penned clever poems for birthdays and other special occasions.
Following high school, Mary Ellen worked as an instructor at Bell Telephone, serving offices in Sharon, Pittsburgh and Indiana, PA.
She married the late William J. Joyce on June 14, 1947 in Church of the Sacred Heart, Sharon. The couple settled in Sharpsville, where they raised five children, and were married until Mr. Joyce's death in 2002.
Mary Ellen was active for many years in St. Bartholomew Altar Rosary Society, Sharpsville Little League, the Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and the Mental Heath Association of Mercer County, where she was a longtime board member and was named Honorary Life Member. She was a strong advocate for people with mental illness. Mary Ellen was a die hard Steelers and Pirates fan, and treasured her Irish heritage. But above all, she loved her family, friends and church. She remained in close touch with her many cousins, nieces and nephews. Family always gathered at her home for big holiday feasts. Her kindness and sunny disposition were magnetic and infectious.
She is survived by four sons, William Joyce, Oakland, California; Peter Joyce, Sharpsville; John Joyce, Great Mills, Maryland; and James Joyce and his wife Paulette, Emsworth, PA; and two grandsons, William Paul 'Liam' Joyce, Emsworth; and Patrick Clendenon, Oakland, California.
Besides her parents, sister, brother and husband, Mary Ellen was preceded in death by a daughter, Margaret 'Peggy' Joyce.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Bethany House Services, 1841 Fairmont Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45214; or Mental Health Association of Mercer County, 327 Stambaugh Ave., Sharon, PA 16146; or St. Bartholomew Church, 311 Ridge Ave., Sharpsville, PA 16150.
Calling hours will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2011, in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.
Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.
Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 7, 2011 in St. Bartholomew Church, Sharpsville, with the Rev. John S. Lynch, as celebrant.
Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Hermitage.
Mrs. Joyce was born August 13, 1925 in Sharon a daughter of the late Peter and Julia McCarthy Miller, who both died when Mrs. Joyce was 15 years of age. She survived and excelled with the love and support of her two older teenage siblings, the late Julianne (Miller) Stanton, and a brother, the late William Miller.
She graduated in 1942 from Sharon High School, where she served as class officer and editor of the school literary magazine, beginning a long love affair with writing. She shared this love in frequent cards and letters to family and friends, and she often penned clever poems for birthdays and other special occasions.
Following high school, Mary Ellen worked as an instructor at Bell Telephone, serving offices in Sharon, Pittsburgh and Indiana, PA.
She married the late William J. Joyce on June 14, 1947 in Church of the Sacred Heart, Sharon. The couple settled in Sharpsville, where they raised five children, and were married until Mr. Joyce's death in 2002.
Mary Ellen was active for many years in St. Bartholomew Altar Rosary Society, Sharpsville Little League, the Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and the Mental Heath Association of Mercer County, where she was a longtime board member and was named Honorary Life Member. She was a strong advocate for people with mental illness. Mary Ellen was a die hard Steelers and Pirates fan, and treasured her Irish heritage. But above all, she loved her family, friends and church. She remained in close touch with her many cousins, nieces and nephews. Family always gathered at her home for big holiday feasts. Her kindness and sunny disposition were magnetic and infectious.
She is survived by four sons, William Joyce, Oakland, California; Peter Joyce, Sharpsville; John Joyce, Great Mills, Maryland; and James Joyce and his wife Paulette, Emsworth, PA; and two grandsons, William Paul 'Liam' Joyce, Emsworth; and Patrick Clendenon, Oakland, California.
Besides her parents, sister, brother and husband, Mary Ellen was preceded in death by a daughter, Margaret 'Peggy' Joyce.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Bethany House Services, 1841 Fairmont Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45214; or Mental Health Association of Mercer County, 327 Stambaugh Ave., Sharon, PA 16146; or St. Bartholomew Church, 311 Ridge Ave., Sharpsville, PA 16150.
Calling hours will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2011, in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.
Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.
Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 7, 2011 in St. Bartholomew Church, Sharpsville, with the Rev. John S. Lynch, as celebrant.
Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Hermitage.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Ellen Joyce, please visit our flower store.
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