Mary Grace Ruby Laister Long

Passed away on Sunday, February 4, 2024 at Springdale Long Term Care at the age of 105. Grace was born in Toronto on June 28, 1918 and was the seventh and last child of Charles and Ruby Laister. Grace had six children: Beryl, Darlene (Peter), Judy, and predeceased by Bob, Ruth, and Maxine. Grandmother of many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Grace’s mother and father separated when she was five and her father moved to Detroit with his two young sons and Grace and her mother moved to Woodstock, Ontario where Grace’s mother started Belvedere Nursing Home. Grace says she remembers the many beautiful dolls she received from her father and two brothers. They also brought her a ukulele and when she was older a guitar – which helped kindle her lifelong love of music.

Grace was very active all her life. She was known for running the Country and Western Program on the Bancroft Radio Station. She enjoyed playing euchre, bid euchre, bridge, and other card games in Toronto, Bancroft, and at Mapleridge Recreation Centre in Peterborough.

Grace started knitting mittens for children in Peterborough and was known for knitting one pair of mitts a day and she hand delivered them to all the public schools in Peterborough and the surrounding area. The program was so successful, it became a part of the United Way Peterborough and is still operating today.

A visitation will be held at Ashburnham Funeral Home – 840 Amour Road, Peterborough on Saturday, June 29, 2024 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM. A celebration of life will begin at 2:00 PM with a reception to follow. The celebration of life can also be attended via live webcasting. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated in Grace’s name to the United Way Peterborough – Mitts for Kids or Mapleridge Recreation Centre. Condolences to the family, information for live webcasting, directions to the service, and donations may be made by visiting www.ashburnhamfuneral.ca.