Mrs. Pierce was a well-known community activist in Bradford, making her mark with the American Red Cross as a longtime volunteer in the swimming program and blood drives as well as a driver for Meals on Wheels. Later, she assumed the position of leader of the swimming program, joined the board of directors and eventually served as chairman of the board for over a decade.
Mrs. Pierce was also instrumental in the success of the YMCA and Bradford High School swimming programs, helping to start the high school swim team and supporting the YMCA team. For 20 years, she was a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association swimming official as well as a YMCA swimming official refereeing hundreds of local, regional, and state meets. She was one of the original Bradford school district fourth grade (now third grade) swimming program instructors, providing swimming instruction to thousands of Bradford children. She also taught adult swimming.
She was the wife of the late Jack R. Pierce, M.D.; daughter of the late Andrew W. and Madge M. MacLaughlin; mother of Jean Scott of Old Zionsville, PA, Elaine Van Dyke of Kingston, NH, Liz Pierce of State College, PA, Mary Bradigan of Strongsville, OH, John Pierce of Gowanda, and Bill Pierce of Silver Spring, MD; also survived by 12 grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Mrs. Pierce's favorite charities, the American Red Cross, the Alzheimer's Foundation, or Chang-Hu Park in Gowanda.