Grace Gray

Grace Gray, 83, of Peace Dale passed away peacefully on March 18, 2023. Born in East Greenwich, Grace was the daughter of Margaret Nappa and Biagio Tortolano. Grace, one of 9 children, was primarily raised by her mother and stepfather Juan (John) Forcelli. Grace married the love of her life, Donald E. Gray Sr. in 1959. Grace worked for several years at the Peace Dale Mill as an administrative assistant before accepting a position at the University of Rhode Island where she retired after more than 30 years of service.

In her younger years, Grace enjoyed going to the beach with family and friends, bowling with her daughters and sewing. Since her retirement in 2009, Grace’s greatest joy was spending time with her family. She also enjoyed frequent visits to Old Mountain lanes where she visited with friends and the amazing staff who treated her like family.

Grace leaves behind her children, Brian Gray, with whom she lived, Denise Viens of Narragansett, Deborah Grandolfi (Peter) of Richmond, Donald E. Gray Jr. (Jennifer) of Wakefield and Doreen Tefft (Brian) of West Kingston. Her grandchildren, Matt and Greg Grandolfi, Kimberly Hopkins, Amanda and Joshua Tefft, Patrick Gray and Alyssa Bourassa. Her great grandchildren, Kaylee and Brady Hopkins, Lucas Tefft, Gianna DiMaggio, Connor Tallman, Riley and Rocco Grandolfi and Nico Gray. Her brothers, Anthony and Joseph Forcelli, her sisters, Jeanie Stover, Margarite Mercurio and Theresa Casey. She is pre-deceased by her husband and her brothers John, Richard and Louie.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 10:00am in St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 114 High St, South Kingstown, RI. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, from 4 pm to 7 pm in Avery Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St. Wakefield, RI. Burial will be held in St. Francis Cemetery, Peace Dale.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Francis of Assisi Parish or Hope Hospice.