Obituary

Barbara Carolyn Grace of Chesterfield, VA passed away at home on June 22 after a long illness. She was 79. Always at her side was her husband of 64 years, George F. Grace. She is survived by her son Donald “Craig” Grace and his wife Dianne of Orlando, Florida and daughter Kathy DelGuercio and her husband David of Chesterfield. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Sarah Caitlin Grace of New York City, Cameron Grace of New York, Emily DelGuercio of Richmond, and Hannah DelGuercio of Denver. Additional survivors include her sisters Georgia Shimko of Germantown, TN and Maureen Howard and her husband Tom of Frederick, MD as well as her sister-in-law Joan Grace of Baltimore, MD, a niece, four nephews and their families and numerous cousins. Her sister Beatrice M. Richardson, three brothers-in-law and a nephew predeceased her.

Carolyn was the oldest four daughters. She was born and raised in Baltimore, MD by her parents, George and Margaret Wood within a large, close-knit extended family. She and her husband George met as teenagers and because of his work, they left Baltimore and lived in Jacksonville Beach, FL, Yorba Linda, CA, Dallas, TX and Charlotte, NC. They retired and moved to Bluffton, SC (Sun City Hilton Head) for 18 years before moving to Chesterfield, VA to live closer to family.

Carolyn attended college after her children started school. She earned her degree in elementary education at University of North Florida where she also completed her reading certification. She taught for 30 years in both public and parochial schools in Maryland, Florida, California, and Texas. Even after retirement she tutored for several years and volunteered teaching art to disadvantaged children in Bluffton, SC. She was a life-long educator who loved reading, music, art, and travel. Her greatest love, and her pride and joy, was her family. She had an infectious laugh, a quick wit, and a generous nature. She could walk into a room of strangers and walk out with friends.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 14 at St. Ann Catholic Church, 17111 Jefferson Davis Hwy, South Chesterfield, VA 23834. Carolyn”™s family would like to extend their gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and technicians at DaVita Kidney Care, Colony Crossing and to the staff of Heartland Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St Jude”™s Children”™s Hospital https://www.stjude.org or to Heartland Hospice via check to 10800 Midlothian Turnpike, Suite 303, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. Please include a note in the memo section of the check that says “In Memory of Barbara C. Grace.”