Grace Margaret Girvan

Grace Margaret Girvan, 76, passed away peacefully at home in Geddes Lake, Ann Arbor, MI on April 29, 2018. Grace was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Edward A. Girvan and Margaret Regena (Oesterle) Girvan on April 20, 1942. Grace grew up in Ann Arbor attending Bach, Eberwhite, Slauson and Ann Arbor High School where she graduated in 1960. She was married twice and had 3 children, Anne Marie, Michael Girvan, Evan George and 2 step-sons, Timothy William Lampe, Bradley Penrod Lampe.

In 1975, Grace’s marriage to William Sims Lampe, added sons, Timothy and Bradley into her family. The new “Brady Bunch” family of five children lived together on Yorktown Drive during the summers, from the time the kids were in grade school until they graduated. Grace’s devotion to her children and family was her greatest joy and her life mission. She reconnected her American family with their Scottish cousins in the 1980’s, effectively doubling the size of the family. Though she and Bill later separated, the five step-siblings have remained devoted and lovingly connected to each other.

In the 60’s, Grace worked tirelessly to raise 3 small children as a single mother and often worked two jobs. Grace was a waitress at Bill’s Coffee Cup for many years and then began a career in 1975 at Ann Arbor Federal Savings (which later became Great Lakes Federal Savings & Loan/Bancorp) as a secretary, and was promoted multiple times, ultimately becoming the Senior Vice President of Consumer Lending. She oversaw the implementation of a new bank-wide computer system and helped train many of the young executives before retiring in 1995. She received the Outstanding Leadership Award from Great Lakes in 1987. Grace re-entered the workforce as the Parish Administrator at St. Mary Student Parish in Ann Arbor in 1995 and worked there for 12 years before “re-retiring” in 2007.

Throughout her life, Grace was committed to supporting the Ann Arbor community through her involvement in numerous volunteer activities and causes. She was on the Executive Board of Dawn Farm, a center for substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation in Ypsilanti, where she championed the center among the Ann Arbor business community, leading to a well-managed professional organization and meaningful donations to create a thriving center. She was also on the board of the Washtenaw County United Way, the Washtenaw Council on Alcoholism, and she participated in fundraising efforts for the United Negro College Fund. Grace was devoted to bringing her big heart, “can do” attitude and organizational and leadership skills to causes meaningful to her.

Grace was baptized at St Thomas Catholic Church in 1942, attended Trinity Lutheran Church in the 80’s and 90’s and then re-connected to her Catholic faith in 1993. She then attended St. Mary Student Parish in Ann Arbor. She was a member of the recovery community and built life-long bonds with many special people in that community who enriched her life. She was a lover of music and the arts, regularly attending concerts put on by the University Musical Society and making several trips to the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario. She loved to travel and took many special trips to California, Florida, the Canadian Rockies, Park City,Utah, Chicago, Pine Lake, Wisconsin and Scotland, homeland of her beloved father Eddie. Grace was also an ardent, enthusiastic fan of University of Michigan Athletics, passing down that devotion to her children and grandchildren.

Grace is preceded in death by her father, Edward A. Girvan, who died suddenly at the age of 47 in Scotland in 1958, her mother, Margaret R. Girvan, who died at the age of 89 in 2009, and her first grandson, Spencer Jeffrey Price, who died at birth in 1996.

She is survived by brother John Edward Girvan and his wife, Sandra (Brice) Girvan; daughter, Anne Marie (Lampe) Price, her husband, Jeffrey Price, and their children, Evan Val Price and Katherine Grace Price; son, Michael Girvan Lampe, his wife, Ingrid Oakley-Girvan, and their children, Olivia Anne Girvan and George Yost Girvan; son Evan George Lampe, and his children, Charlotte Michael Lampe and Lydia Anne Lampe; step-son, Timothy William Lampe, his wife, Wendy Patriquin, and their daughter Vivian; and step-son, Bradley Penrod Lampe, his wife, Rhonda Renee (Fletcher) Lampe, and their children, Ethan Bradley Lampe and wife Hannah, Kelsey Renee (Lampe) Zoodsma and husband William, and Marcella Christie (Lampe) Larsh and husband Ryne, and first great grandchild Olivia Rose Lampe. She is also survived by her close Scottish cousin Margaret “Margie” Rankin Fitzsimmons Young in Kilbirnie, Scotland, as well as her beloved Scottish family in Ayrshire, Scotland.

She will be remembered by all as a wonderful, endlessly loving, proud mother and grandmother; a kind-hearted and devoted member of the Ann Arbor community who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those around her; and as an intelligent and interesting conversationalist who always had an encouraging word or an insightful perspective. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh and she brought a lot of joy into the lives of friends and family through her positive spirit. She will be greatly missed, but cherished forever in the hearts of those whose lives she touched.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 pm Friday, May 4 at Muehlig Funeral Chapel at 403 S. Fourth Avenue, Ann Arbor. There will be a Rosary at 6:30pm during visitation.

Visitation immediately preceding the service will be held from 9:00 – 10:00 am Saturday, May 5 at St. Mary Student Parish at 331 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, May 5 at St. Mary Student Parish with Father Terrence Dumas officiating. Burial will follow at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the Muehlig Funeral Chapel.

Memorials may be given in Grace Girvan’s name to Dawn Farm, 6633 Stony Creek Road, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. https://www.dawnfarm.org/donate-now/