Linda Grace
July 16, 1945 - July 6, 2021
Wallkill, New York
What is grief, if not love persevering? It's a simple notion, a logical thought, but a different perspective than most of us have grown up with. Grief suddenly becomes less dark, more beautiful and more of a celebration of love when you embrace this concept.
Born July 16, 1945 in Tonopah, Nevada, Linda J. Grace would have encouraged this perspective. Never one to conform, she would revel in this fresh take on grief. She is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 51 years, Dennis Grace. By her side for most of her life, he stood with her as she took her last breath. She didn't conform to Dennis either, but that's the beauty of their marriage at the end of the day.
She devoted her life to raising two amazing, beautiful and strong girls, Tara D. Grace and Kristi L. Grace. These girls, these amazing women, are not for the feint of heart and Linda wouldn't have it any other way. Many mothers would be described as devoting their lives to their children but they would pale in comparison to the devotion she showed her daughters. If they wanted something, if they were in need, if their friends were in need, when they didn't want to be shadowed, she was there. She showed up, she stood up, she validated, she supported and she went to bat - always.
Her motherly role did not end when Tara and Kristi were women and mothers themselves as she continued to be fiercely active in the lives of her grandchildren- Elizabeth Serano, Bailey Styles, Michael Grace, Shae Styles and with her great grand daughter Liliana Ordonez. Her wit, humor, devotion and kindness will live on through these children, and lucky are we to share in their light.
Linda is also survived by her sister and brother , Joanne Gura and Jim Partridge, nieces and nephews, and countless pseudo-adoptive children that she provided a loving shoulder to lean on.
Ed Sheeran mirrored the "new" perspective on grief when he wrote the lyrics " a heart that's broke is a heart that's been loved" and "a life with love is a life that has been lived". While for us, she is gone too soon, by that measure, she lived a full and beautiful life. She loved, she was loved, and she taught us all about strength, humor and true devotion.
Fly high in peace Beulah, nobody deserves it more.