Windsor, Vermont - Joyce Pierce, 90, of Windsor died at home on Tuesday, March 30 ^th , surrounded by her loving family.

Joyce was born on July 17, 1930 in Claremont, NH; the eldest child of Frank and Barbara Burrington. She and her siblings, John and Nancy, grew up on their family's dairy farm on North Main Street in Windsor, in a big house filled with extended family. Joyce often reminisced about her fond memories of roaming the back pastures with her siblings, joyful holiday dinners with her grandmother's good cooking, and marching around the center-chimney house with flags flying as their mother played the piano and their father sang. She graduated from Windsor High School in the class of 1948 and planned to attend Middlebury College as an English major. But disappointment hit hard when her father's severe illness required that her college funds be contributed towards the family's living expenses.

Instead, Joyce moved to Washington DC for five years, living with her favorite Aunt Hazel's family and working in a department store. But homesickness eventually brought her back to her family in Vermont and a librarian job at the Windsor Public Library. An avid reader, books and the library became constants in her life.

Her other constant was Albert "David" Pierce, a friend of her brother John, who never missed an opportunity for one of the farm's Sunday dinners. Joyce and David were married on May 26, 1956 and were just shy of celebrating their 65 ^th wedding anniversary. Their daughter Amy was born the following year...and they became a threesome who loved to argue politics at the dinner table or read a good book on the beach.

Joyce worked in various Windsor banks as a bookkeeper and teller, and later alongside David for many years in their Nationwide Insurance Agency on Main Street in Windsor. After her retirement from their insurance business, Joyce became an antiques dealer, relishing the hunt for an unusual piece of Deco costume jewelry or an old dish reminiscent of her Grandmother's collection at the farm. One of her favorite locations for antiques hunting was Wells, Maine, often accompanied by her daughter Amy. Joyce & David later purchased a small condo on the coast of Wells, satisfying a long-time dream.

Joyce was proud of her involvement in the community and many volunteer jobs. She wrote a column for the Windsor Chronicle called "I Digress....Ruminations from an Idle Mind", which offered glimpses into the Windsor of her youth or spotlighted others who contributed to the community.  Joyce was actively involved in many community organizations, including the Old South Church, the Festival Windsor Committee and the Hospital Auxiliary. Her dedication to the Windsor Public Library continued throughout her life. She took on many jobs there, such as serving on the Friends of the Library, volunteering at the front desk, and organizing the successful Author Luncheons Series. In 1996, she was presented with the Vermont Federal Bank Community Volunteer Award for her service. Well into her 80's, Joyce and her life-long best friend Helen George volunteered as greeters at the Mt. Ascutney Hospital.

Joyce passed on her love of books to grand-daughter Megan and taught her that "money spent on books is never money wasted". Joyce was named "Geggi" by Megan ("Meggi"), and they were best of friends from the moment Megan arrived. Geggi was a magical adult who encouraged imagination and fun, promising Megan "you can do whatever you want at Geggi's house", and surprisingly, never regretting the statement.

"Geggi" was also Joyce's license plate on her beloved Prius. David remembers when the salesman was actively selling the car to him, escorting him to the front seat for a test drive. Joyce, never shy to speak up, asked "Why are you talking to him...I'm the one buying this car!" and settled into the driver's seat.

Joyce is survived by her husband Albert "David" Pierce; her daughter Amy and husband Jason of Braintree, Massachusetts; her grand-daughter Megan and husband Mark of Middleboro, Massachusetts, and a large extended family. She will be dearly missed.

She is predeceased by her parents and siblings John Burrington of Pennsylvania and Nancy Burrington of California.

A celebration of Joyce's life will be held later this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Windsor Public Library or a charity of your choice.