Grayce Mabel (Strojny) Merrick, age 87, passed away on Sept. 21, 2017 at Baystate Medical Center. She was born on Nov. 12, 1929 in Worcester, MA, a daughter of the late Casmir A. and Mabel (Shepard) Strojny. Grayce was first and foremost, a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She worked for several years as a photo color artist for Hallmark Photo Labs in Turners Falls, MA. Grayce loved to express herself with art and music. Her sparkling personality was contagious and shared her happiness with everyone she met. She leaves two daughters Deborah DeSalvio of Greenfield, Karen DeSalvio of Northampton and two sons Joseph DeSalvio and his wife Tris Anne of Potomac, MD and Sean Merrick and his wife Crystal of Brookfield, MA; one sister Gloria Salminen of Leicester; seven grandchildren Abagail and Olivia Merrick, Parker, Grayson and Beckett DeSalvio, Sharla Magee and Donald Sullivan and three great grandchildren Joshua Weston and Jonathan and Julia Magee. Grayce was predeceased by one sister Gladys Lunger and two grandchildren Patrick Merrick and Sheila Pollard-Weston.
Calling Hours are on Wed, Sept. 27, 2017 from 10 AM to 12 PM at Grise Funeral Home 280 Springfield St, Chicopee, MA 01013 with a Prayer Service to take place at 11 AM. A Celebration of Life Reception for Grayce will follow at 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM at The Arbors 929 Memorial Drive Chicopee, MA 01020. All are invited. Burial will take place on Thurs, Sept. 28, 2017 at 11A.M. at the Worcester Memorial Park Cemetery 217 Richards Ave, Paxton, MA 01612.