Joyce, 89, is best known for his years of public service as an elected official and community leader.

A lifelong resident of Sharpsville, Joyce graduated from Sharpsville High School and the former Shenango Valley Commercial Institute and began his political career in 1940 on Sharpsville Area School Board.

Joyce served four years in the Army during World War II and returned to serve a second school-board term.

He followed that with 18 years as a borough official, including terms as burgess and then mayor from 1953 through 1957 and 1961 through 1969. Joyce also was elected in 1958 and again in 1976 as county commissioner. In 1962 he came within 3,000 votes of being elected to Congress.

Throughout his years in public service, Joyce operated an Islay’s store in Sharpsville.

As mayor, he was responsible for setting up a pension fund for borough employees and donated his own salary to it. Joyce urged the establishment of an organization for joint purchasing and the effort resulted in the formation of what is now Mercer County Regional Council of Governments.

He also was active in initiating the Shenango Valley Regional Planning Commission, now Mercer County Regional Planning Commission.

He was also a member of the Pennsylvania Economy League.

Joyce served with local organizations, often as president. They included Community Chest, the forerunner of United Way.

Joyce was a member for 40 years of Sharpsville Service Club, of which he was past president.

He served for many years in Catholic Social Service Club, and was president of its advisory board.

Joyce has been active in St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Sharpsville. He served as president of the former Mercer County Holy Name Society and taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes for young people.

Joyce in 1973 was appointed regional municipal services officer for PennDOT. He also served as chairman of Mercer County Area Agency on Aging Inc. board. He also served on the Mercer County Board of Elections.

He was named "Man of the Year" by Shenango Valley Jaycees and Shenango Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce. In 1977, he was named outstanding Democrat of the year by Reynolds Area 2 Democrats and Feb. 2, 1980, was declared "Peter J. Joyce Day" by local mayors.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians is new to Mercer County but steeped in history in Ireland and the United States. Formed in 1565 to protect Catholic priests in Ireland, the order is now dedicated to unification of an independent Ireland and promoting Irish history. Its membership is restricted to Catholics of Irish descent, according to information provided by the order.