Grace A. Pell

Grace was born in Fairview, Kansas on October 13, 1916 and grew up in nearby, Horton. She was the daughter of Lee Joseph and Carrie Lavina Winterscheidt and the stepdaughter of Homer and Inez Kipp. Her beloved siblings all predeceased her; Mildred Taylor of Kansas, Ivan Winters of Massachusetts, and Paul Kipp of Texas.

After graduating from Willis High School in 1934, she married the love of her life, Gerald “Jerry” Pell, in 1942, the year he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Once Jerry returned from serving in the 3rd Infantry under General Patton in World War II, Jerry and Grace then moved to Ontario, CA, in 1946. She had careers as both a teacher and a beautician.

Grace’s greatest joys in life were being married to her sweetheart, raising their daughters, Pamela Hardy and Mary Ellen Hjorth, and being fully involved in the lives of her growing family. She loved to cook, bake, sew, and, of course, tend to her yard full of beautiful flowers and fruit trees. Grace was also a devoted member of the Ontario Women’s Club for 44 years. Her life was filled with giving, doing, and caring for all who crossed her path and she was happiest when sharing with others whatever she had made or grown. Grace was the epitome of grace, always prim and proper.

Grace and her late husband, Jerry Pell, were married for 65 years prior to his passing in 2008. They lived in the same Ontario residence they had purchased in 1954. Jerry and Grace enjoyed traveling all around the world, including all 50 states and repeated trips to Europe.

She was known to her family as Grace, Mother, Grandma, Grandma GG, or Aunt Grace; however, if you were her friend, you would also inevitably become family. The breadth of her family extends from Southern California to many parts of the United States to as far away as England, Italy, and Switzerland.

Grace is survived by her two daughters, Pamela (Kevin) Hardy of Upland, Mary Ellen (David) Hjorth of Upland, four grandchildren Amy (Alfred) Yalda, Matthew (Lisa) West, Nicholas (Anna) Hjorth, Joanna (Chris) Denny, and eight great grandchildren Ian & Katie Yalda, Natalia West, Noah Gerald, Mia, & Cecelia Hjorth, and Abigail Grace & Andrew Denny.

Visitation and the Rosary will be held on Saturday, February 3rd beginning at 9 a.m. at St. George Catholic Church (505 N. Palm Avenue, Ontario, CA 91762) followed by the Funeral Mass at 10 a.m.. Grace was a dedicated member of St. George since 1946. A reception will follow the service at Ontario Masonic Lodge (1025 N. Vine Avenue, Ontario, CA 91762). Entombment will be private.

The family thanks Grace’s wonderful caregivers; Visiting Angels, Kaiser Hospital, Upland Rehabilitation & Care Center, and Goldberg Hospice.

Donations may be made in memory of Grace A. Pell to the American Heart Association at www.donatenow.heart.org.