Grace D. Vieraitis' Obituary
Grace Dolores VieraitisResident of FremontGrace passed away peacefully at home on May 9, 2010, Mother's Day, surrounded by family, after a long battle with the blood disorder MDS. She was 77. A loving wife, mother, sister and grandmother, Grace was always there for all of us in her life, with unfailing wisdom, a warm smile and a generous spirit. While we will miss her deeply, it comforts us to know that she will continue to live in our hearts and minds.Born on November 25, 1932 in Worcester, MA, Grace was the youngest of 5 children in a Lithuanian family that included 3 brothers, Theodore, Albert and Joseph, and her sister Jeannette. A top student, she was admitted to Clark University but had to leave in her first year to care for her beloved mother Marcella Rackauskas, who was twice-widowed and had suffered a major stroke. She lived with her mother in Worcester and worked as a secretary at The Norton Company. It was at a church social at her Catholic parish in Worcester, that she met Bob, her loving husband of 52 years. Grace and Bob raised their son Bob and daughter Andrea in Acton, MA and Fairfield, CT. Passionate about education and having given up her opportunity to attend college in her youth, Grace worked tirelessly to help her children succeed in school, scouting and other activities. She was very proud to see both of her children graduate from MIT.After selflessly caring for her ailing mother once again for more than 13 years, Grace was eventually able to enjoy many other pursuits. She attended local university classes, earned a pension as a long-time administrative assistant at Chesebrough-Pond's in Westport, CT, became a gourmet cook and was a voracious reader. She also greatly enjoyed traveling with her husband to Hawaii, the Canadian Rockies and all over Europe. Moving to California in 1990 she and her husband successfully ran a small business, ArtForms Framing Center and Gallery, in Fremont.Grace is survived by her husband of 52 years, Robert Vieraitis, her daughter Andrea Markel and her husband Robert Markel of Oakland, CA, her son Robert Vieraitis Jr. and his wife Donna of Los Altos, CA and their two children, her granddaughters Marcella and Lydia Vieraitis. She is also survived by her sister Jeannette Russell of Springfield, MA. Services and burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, May 14, 2010 at Lifemark Center, Skylawn Memorial Park, Highway 92 at Route 35, San Mateo, CA. A donation in her memory may be made in lieu of flowers to the MDS foundation, www.mds-foundation.org.Anyone who knew Grace knew that her name fit her particularly well. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. We know that you are with your own Mom now.
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