Grace De Gasperi

“For it is in giving that we receive.”

Grace De Gasperi, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on November 12, 2025, predeceased by her husband Dr. Raul De Gasperi and her son-in-law Dieter Koerppen. Grace was born Graciela Finestra in Tobatí, Paraguay, on July 22, 1929. After completing her secondary education, she obtained a degree as an elementary school teacher in Asunción. In 1953 she married Raul and the following year they emigrated to New England, where their four daughters were born. After a brief return to Paraguay, in 1962 the family settled in Coral Gables, Florida. Once her daughters were established in school, Grace started working, first at Burdines in downtown Miami, then at the University of Miami medical campus in the PhD to MD program and later at the Mailman Center, until her retirement in 2005. When she became a U.S. citizen in 1976, she adopted the name “Grace” – a perfect fit with her innate sense of style and natural elegance. For family and friends, she was a great lady: positive, witty, and full of life.

Grace and her family worshipped at St. Augustine Church for many decades. She is survived by her daughters Magdalena, Maria Lis, Patricia, and Aurora; her siblings Maria Angelica Finestra de Vargas, Mariano Finestra, José Alberto Finestra, and the extended family in Paraguay; her sons-in-law Francisco González and Michael Pembroke as well as David Leiwant; her eight grandchildren Eric, Alexander, Carlos (with Chrystyna, Mikel, and Mila), Michaela (with James and Jay), James, Matthew, Isabella (with Chip), and Olivia.

The funeral Mass will be held at St. Augustine Church, 1400 Miller Drive, Coral Gables on Friday, December 19th at 10 a.m., followed by the interment at Woodlawn North Cemetery, 3260 SW 8th St, Miami. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Grace De Gasperi to the veterans’ charity of choice.