Grace H. Zachary passed away at the Spring Arbor Senior Living facility in Midlothian, Virginia on January 12, 2020. She is predeceased by her husband, John S. Zachary, Esq.; her sister, Dorothy Kain; and a grandson, John Peter Zachary. She is survived by her children, Stephen P. Zachary, Esq. of Fairfax, VA; John S. Zachary, MD (Karen) of Midlothian, VA; Deborah Zachary Tracy, Esq. of Holmdel, NJ; Susan Zachary Lembo, Esq. (Dr. Nicholas) of Alys Beach, FL; and Christopher H. Zachary, MD (Kim) of Hummelstown, PA. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Zachary was born on December 19, 1926 to Harry and Grace Nellis in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Fort Hamilton High School she pursued a career as a registered nurse. While working at the health department in Manhattan she met her husband to be, John. They were married on August 19, 1950 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and resided in Brooklyn, NY. Her husband attended St. John’s University pursuing a law degree at night while working as an X-Ray technician during the day. Grace continued to work as a nurse until the birth of the couple’s first child. Thereafter, Grace worked from the home as a wife and mother. The family moved to Staten Island in 1958.
Grace was active in Mother’s Clubs at Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Monsignor Farrell High School and St. Joseph’s Hill Academy while living on Staten Island. She was a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and was active in the Legion of Mary.
In November 1997 Grace and John were living in their Florida home following John’s by-pass surgery. John suffered a serious and debilitating stroke on December 20, 1997. Grace took care of him until his death in August 2003. Following her husband’s death, Grace lived independently in her Florida home. She often told her children about the wonderful neighbors she had in St. Pete Beach. Grace was active in Catholic Daughters at St. John Vianney Church.
In March 2018 Grace fell and broke her hip while at church during Easter week. Following recovery from hip replacement surgery Grace moved from Florida to the Spring Arbor facility in September 2018. She was in good health until being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in March 2019. Thereafter, her health steadily declined. She was able to enjoy a belated 93rd birthday party with all of her children; a number of her grand-children; and a number of her great grand-children on December 21, 2019. She was hospitalized twice thereafter and returned to Spring Arbor on January 8, 2020 as a hospice patient.
Grace’s loves were her family and her Church. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She was a devoted parishioner at each church to which she belonged. She prayed the Rosary often. The family Rosary was a tradition in the home as her children were growing up. She and her husband often walked the beach at their Florida home while praying the Rosary. When the family went on car trips, the trips always began with Grace’s request that the family say a decade of the Rosary. In recent times when her children would visit, the visit ended with her request that a “Hail Mary” be recited.
Grace enjoyed going to Tampa Bay Rays baseball games while living in Florida. She enjoyed watching the Rays on TV once she moved to Virginia. She loved to follow the teams of the colleges that her children attended. While she cheered on each of her children’s teams, it was no secret that her favorite was The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Grace’s family wishes to sincerely thank all of her neighbors and friends in St. Pete Beach who cared for her as if she were family. The family also wishes to sincerely thank all of the people at Spring Arbor for their loving care of our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made in Grace’s name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Visitation will be at Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Rd, Midlothian, VA 23113 on Friday, January 17, 2020 between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm. A Requiem Mass will be said at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, 2700 Dolfield Dr, North Chesterfield, VA 23235 on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 10:00 am. Cremation of her mortal remains will be in a private ceremony.
