Marie D. Grace

Marie (Gagnon) Grace, age 89, of Arlington, VA passed away on April 3, 2019 at the Virginia Hospital Center. She lived a full and happy life and died with her husband and son by her side. Marie was the eldest child of Arthur and Isabelle Gagnon from the Bronx, NY. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from The College of New Rochelle. She married John J. Grace (USMC Ret.) in 1951 and moved with him to various duty stations across the country including Camp Pendleton in CA, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in NH, Villanova University in PA, Ft. Benning in GA, Newport Naval War College in RI, Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station in HI, and Headquarters Marine Corps in VA. Marie enjoyed leisure travel, as well as a variety of activities throughout her life, including choral groups, sewing, knitting and various creative projects with her kids and Scout Troops. Marie was a person who welcomed people into her home with hospitality and a smile. She loved to swim and walk every chance she could. She was an avid reader and was a fierce Scrabble opponent. At age 60, after raising six kids, she enjoyed a second “career” as a Washington Convention Bureau Greeter and Registrar. She enjoyed interacting with people coming from all over. She is survived by her husband, John “Jack” Grace; her children, John, Michael and wife Sue, Peter and wife Sue, Margaret, Bernard and wife Sharon and Suzanne and husband Fintan; her grandchildren, Jared (Dori), Jamie (Paul), Jordan, Brittany (Paul), Thomas, Johnathan, Roman, Fiona and Bridget; as well as her sisters and brothers-in-law, Isabel and Bob, and Arleen and Tom, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 from 5 PM to 8 PM at Murphy Funeral Homes, 1102 W. Broad Street in Falls Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 11 AM at St. Francis of Assisi, 18825 Fuller Heights Road in Triangle, VA 22172. Interment will follow at Quantico National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to “Friends of Arlington Public Library.” Fond memories, expressions of sympathy and contributions may be shared through www.murphyfuneralhomes.com.