Grace was born to Mary Elizabeth and Jeremiah James Harrington on July 26, 1933, in Providence, Rhode Island. She married William Joseph Dessert and together they began their life’s adventure traveling south to pursue Bill’s career with Allied Chemical. They enjoyed raising their four children in Virginia, Kentucky, and finally Baton Rouge.
Grace became a courageous and curious lifelong learner and world traveler after Bill’s passing in 1989. Her greatest accomplishment and gift, however, was the love she shared with her family and the way she taught them to share that love with one another.
Grace is survived by her brother, Jeremiah James (Carol) Harrington, Jr.; her children, Kathleen (Eric) Rosenberg, Mary Loretta (Ed Bailey) Dessert, Christine (Vincent) Musso and Paul William (Joanne) Dessert; six grandchildren, William Christopher (Channing) Musso, Nicholas Jon (Nicole) Musso, Lynne Meghan Dessert, Allison Kayla (Paul) Guidry, Harold Joseph Rosenberg and Jerome Francis Rosenberg; six great grandchildren, Cassandra Mixon, Gabriel Musso, Georgie Musso, Adler Musso, Ellie Musso and Halen Scioneaux and a seventh great grandchild ( Grace Ruth!) is due in November.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to St. Theresa School Capital Campaign or the American Cancer Society.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 10:00-11:30 AM at Ourso Funeral Home, 13533 Airline Hwy, Gonzales, LA, 70737. Service will begin at 11:30, with interment to follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory Cemetery.
