James J. Joyce, Sr.

James Joseph Joyce, Sr., 83, of Josephine, PA passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at the Indiana Regional Medical Center, Indiana, PA.

The son of Richard P. and Edith (Rhoades) Joyce, he was born August 21, 1934 in Mt. Pleasant, PA.

Mr. Joyce was a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Coral Site; Past Exulted Ruler of BPOE#406, Blairsville; Past President of IBEW; Past President and Past Fire Chief of Black Lick Volunteer Fire Dept. where he was a member for 64 years; Former First Responder #88 of Citizens Ambulance; Indiana County Fire Chiefs Association; Notre Dame Club of Greensburg/Uniontown and loved being Santa Claus for many organizations.

He was a veteran of the US Air Force and worked for Blairsville Westinghouse for 41 years, retiring in 1997.

Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Irene (Spallone) Joyce whom he married June 27, 1959; a daughter, Holly M. McCoy (Andrew) of Harrisville and a son, James J. Joyce, Jr. (Robin) of Apollo; four grandchildren, Duncan J. McCoy, Bronwyn A. McCoy, Sydney I. Joyce and Madeline C. Joyce; two sisters-in-law, Helen Joyce of Blairsville and Joanne Joyce of Rochester, NY and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Fr. Brice Joyce, Richard, David and Theodore Joyce and three sisters, Frances Conforti, Sister M. Scholastica and Patricia Joyce.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. Sunday at the Shoemaker Funeral Home, Inc., 49 N. Walnut St., Blairsville, PA.

Parting Prayers will be said at 9:15 A.M. Monday at the funeral home followed by a funeral Mass at 10:00 A.M. in Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Coral Site with Monsignor Larry Kiniry and Fr. Andres C. Gumangan as concelebrants.

Interment will be in SS Simon & Jude Cemetery, Blairsville, PA.

Military services will be accorded by Blairsville VFW Post #5821 and American Legion Post #0407.