Grace Lyons

Grace (Rametta) Lyons, 96, of East Hartford, loving wife of 22 years of the late Patrick J. Lyons, peacefully passed away with her beloved children by her side on Monday, February 5, 2024 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. Born in Hartford on January 7, 1928, a daughter of the late Salvatore and Antoinette (Cassino) Rametta, she had been a resident of East Hartford for the past 65 years. Grace was a graduate of Bulkeley High School in Hartford, class of 1945 and St. Joseph’s College in West Hartford, class of 1949. She later earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Central Connecticut State College in New Britain.

Grace started her teaching career of over 33 years at the Dr. Thomas O’Connell Elementary School, East Hartford where she was for 22 years before transferring to Hockanum Elementary School in East Hartford where she stayed until her retirement. At both schools Grace met many wonderful children and she enjoyed teaching all of them. Even up to her last days, she had kept in contact with several of her students. Grace gave back to her community by volunteering her services as a tutor and an instructor of ESN (English Second Language) for immigrants. She also was a volunteer Proctor for many years at Manchester Community College.

A devout catholic, Grace was a longtime faithful communicant of Our Lady of Peace Church in East Hartford. She enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Europe, especially to Italy and Ireland. She was also an avid and voracious reader. Most of all Grace was a proud and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who cherished her time spent with her entire family, especially during the holidays.

Grace is survived by a son, Thomas P. Lyons and his wife Chun-Mei of Trumansburg, NY; a daughter, Ann Marie Schechtman and her husband Cliff of Pownal, Maine; four special grandchildren, Patrick James Lyons and his wife Meghan, Jesse Schechtman, Katherine Sweeney and her husband David, Cory Schechtman; three adored great-grandchildren, Emma Sweeney, Jacob Lyons, and Doumarien Lyons; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. Besides her beloved husband and parents, she was predeceased by a brother, Thomas Rametta of Hartford.

Funeral service will be Friday (February 9th) at 10:30 am from the D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11 am at Our Lady of Peace Church of St. Edmund Campion Parish, 370 May Road, East Hartford. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery, (Veteran’s Field #2), Hillside Street, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Friday morning from 9:30 am – 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Grace’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com.