Grace
Grace Howard
Grace Joyce Ann Howard passed away Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at Rose Arbor Hospice surrounded by her family.
She was born Sunday, May 5, 1935 at the home of her great aunt in Buffalo, NY, the daughter of Rev. Dr. John R. and Elsie B. (Byers) Graf. She was referred to by her dad as “a gift of God”. Grace had two brothers, John R. Graf Jr. who was 15 when she was born and Howard who was 10. John lost his life during the invasion of Iwo Jima.
Grace attended Wesleyan College and received her certificate as a certified travel agent in 1990.She was employed as manager of a travel agency until her retirement. In 1991 she was nominated as Travel consultant of the Year for the Uniglobe Southwest Region. She was also nominated for Who’s Who of Women Executives. Grace thoroughly enjoyed her job and often joked that she told people where to go and the quickest way to get there.
An active member of Christ Presbyterian Church, Lakewood, California, she served as Elder, Deacon, Sunday school teacher and was active in the Women’s Association and Frigates. She was also a prior member of PEO Chapter EJ, Bellflower, California and was an active Band Booster at Mayfair High School. Her greatest pride and joy in her life were her two children and grandchildren.
Grace is survived by her children, Lisa Howard and Gregory (Ashlynn Kuersten) Howard; grandchildren, Aiden and Ethan Howard; nephew, John R. (Lisha) Graf; great-nephew, Johnny (Vanessa) Graf and lifelong friends, Kirk J. Real and Fran Boaz.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Donald W. Howard.
According to her wishes cremation has taken place.
Friends may meet with Grace’s family starting at 10:00 A.M. until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, July 1, 2017 at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego with Pastor Andrew Williams officiating.
A memorial service will also take place in California at a later time.
Burial of ashes will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery, Whittier, CA.
Contributions in memory of Grace may be made to
Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan
or to an educational fund for her grandsons.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
.
Offer Condolence for the family of Grace Howard
Condolence Messages
Myra Karlson
June 30, 2017 at 12:32 am
Dear Lisa, Aiden, Ethan and family,
I am so sorry and saddened for your loss. I enjoyed knowing your mom and grandmother the brief time I did. We had some good conversations and many laughs.
In addition to being a lovely person, she was funny too! I loved her dry wit. I know you all will miss her dearly.
My thoughts and prayers are with you today and the days ahead as you mourn your loss and adjust to your life without her.
Much loves comes your way!
Reply
Judy Anderson
June 30, 2017 at 1:24 pm
Grace was good friend to my late husband and myself. I will miss her dearly, so until we meet again, my dear friend God speed. Love Judy Anderson. ps, give Andy a hug and kiss for me until we meet again.
Reply
Betty Ryder
June 30, 2017 at 5:08 pm
Lisa & Greg,
I’m so sorry to hear about Grace!!!! She was quite a gal & we shared many good, fun times!! We all have great memories!
Hang in there……..
I’ll keep you in my thoughts & prayers!!!!!
Reply
The Quinn Family
June 30, 2017 at 10:02 pm
Lisa, Aiden and Ethan,
You are all very blessed to have such a wonderful influence in your life. LIsa, you are a kind, caring daughter and I know your mom is smiling down on you. Aiden and Ethan, take those lessons that your grandma taught you, and make her proud. She loved you both so very much!! Sending you all love from NJ
Reply
Linda Julien
June 30, 2017 at 10:31 pm
The short time I knew Grace she was an extraordinary lady. Always responding with wit and a story. She leaves a colorful heritage for her family. According to her we all “have a cross to bare” and she did that with class.
Reply
Linda Julien
June 30, 2017 at 10:38 pm
The brief time I was fortunate to know Grace was filled with humor and words of wit. She always had a story of a trip she planned or an event in her younger year. A dearly wonderful lady. Leaving us all with our”cross to bare ” which she did with dignity.
Reply
Susie Okimoto-Draper
July 1, 2017 at 3:43 am
Lisa & Greg I am so very sorry for your loss. Your mom was a sweet lady . Always funny & kind. She watches over you and your families . I pray God holds you all tight giving courage, comfort, strength , peace, & His love.
Love your friend,
Susie Okimoto-Draper
Reply
kim allen
July 1, 2017 at 2:49 pm
Dear family of Grace,
I am so sorry for your loss. She was remarkable in every way. I so enjoyed her stories of California, the police department and her precious family stories. I used to bring her meals on wheels until my retirement. She always brightened my day. You were all very lucky to have such a wonderful woman in your lives. Keep her memories. I would have loved to have attended but saw this too late. My heartfelt condolences to all of you. Kim
Reply
Pat and Gene Johnston
July 1, 2017 at 10:32 pm
Lisa, Greg, We are sending you our thoughts and prayers! We shared many years of friendship with MHS Band and Band Boosters! That friendship continued through the years. Please know whenever we talked she always shared how much she loved and appreciated her family! Aiden and Ethan, I am sure you already know this, but your Grandmother shared all the love she has for you and how good you both were to her!
Reply
Paul Hersek
July 2, 2017 at 12:24 pm
Lisa and Greg,
I am so sorry for your loss. There are people you meet in life who will fill a room with good cheer and laughter – making you most happy that you had a few moments of time with them. To me, your mom was one of those people. Her smile, quick wit, laughter, generosity, big heart, and love for her family all come to mind as I think about Grace. She was lovely.
All my best you you and your family.
Reply
Dian Milton
July 7, 2017 at 11:01 am
I am truly saddened by the loss of your Mother and know she was a very special person in your life. The wonderful memories you have of her will be with you forever and my thoughts and prayers go out to you and the boys at this time.
Reply
Winkel Funeral Home
August 7, 2017 at 12:25 pm
Hello from the Hooge Family to the Howard Family:
Our sincere and heart felt prayers are for Grace upon her passing.
I and my son Michael and daughter Michele remember our mutual gatherings and vacations, now over fifty years ago, with great happiness.
We wish both Greg and Lisa the best in the years to come.
John L. Hooge
Reply
Anne (Essen, Germany)
August 13, 2023 at 8:06 am
Dear Lisa and Greg
Graces‘ laughter is in my heart for all time. It was so much fun and I am so thankful to know her and all of your family during my exchange year in 1984/85. I pray for peace and love for the whole family ♥️
Reply
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She was born Sunday, May 5, 1935 at the home of her great aunt in Buffalo, NY, the daughter of Rev. Dr. John R. and Elsie B. (Byers) Graf. She was referred to by her dad as “a gift of God”. Grace had two brothers, John R. Graf Jr. who was 15 when she was born and Howard who was 10. John lost his life during the invasion of Iwo Jima.
Grace attended Wesleyan College and received her certificate as a certified travel agent in 1990.She was employed as manager of a travel agency until her retirement. In 1991 she was nominated as Travel consultant of the Year for the Uniglobe Southwest Region. She was also nominated for Who’s Who of Women Executives. Grace thoroughly enjoyed her job and often joked that she told people where to go and the quickest way to get there.
An active member of Christ Presbyterian Church, Lakewood, California, she served as Elder, Deacon, Sunday school teacher and was active in the Women’s Association and Frigates. She was also a prior member of PEO Chapter EJ, Bellflower, California and was an active Band Booster at Mayfair High School. Her greatest pride and joy in her life were her two children and grandchildren.
Grace is survived by her children, Lisa Howard and Gregory (Ashlynn Kuersten) Howard; grandchildren, Aiden and Ethan Howard; nephew, John R. (Lisha) Graf; great-nephew, Johnny (Vanessa) Graf and lifelong friends, Kirk J. Real and Fran Boaz.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Donald W. Howard.
According to her wishes cremation has taken place.
Friends may meet with Grace’s family starting at 10:00 A.M. until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, July 1, 2017 at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego with Pastor Andrew Williams officiating.
A memorial service will also take place in California at a later time.
Burial of ashes will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery, Whittier, CA.
Contributions in memory of Grace may be made to
Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan
or to an educational fund for her grandsons.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
.
Offer Condolence for the family of Grace Howard
Condolence Messages
Myra Karlson
June 30, 2017 at 12:32 am
Dear Lisa, Aiden, Ethan and family,
I am so sorry and saddened for your loss. I enjoyed knowing your mom and grandmother the brief time I did. We had some good conversations and many laughs.
In addition to being a lovely person, she was funny too! I loved her dry wit. I know you all will miss her dearly.
My thoughts and prayers are with you today and the days ahead as you mourn your loss and adjust to your life without her.
Much loves comes your way!
Reply
Judy Anderson
June 30, 2017 at 1:24 pm
Grace was good friend to my late husband and myself. I will miss her dearly, so until we meet again, my dear friend God speed. Love Judy Anderson. ps, give Andy a hug and kiss for me until we meet again.
Reply
Betty Ryder
June 30, 2017 at 5:08 pm
Lisa & Greg,
I’m so sorry to hear about Grace!!!! She was quite a gal & we shared many good, fun times!! We all have great memories!
Hang in there……..
I’ll keep you in my thoughts & prayers!!!!!
Reply
The Quinn Family
June 30, 2017 at 10:02 pm
Lisa, Aiden and Ethan,
You are all very blessed to have such a wonderful influence in your life. LIsa, you are a kind, caring daughter and I know your mom is smiling down on you. Aiden and Ethan, take those lessons that your grandma taught you, and make her proud. She loved you both so very much!! Sending you all love from NJ
Reply
Linda Julien
June 30, 2017 at 10:31 pm
The short time I knew Grace she was an extraordinary lady. Always responding with wit and a story. She leaves a colorful heritage for her family. According to her we all “have a cross to bare” and she did that with class.
Reply
Linda Julien
June 30, 2017 at 10:38 pm
The brief time I was fortunate to know Grace was filled with humor and words of wit. She always had a story of a trip she planned or an event in her younger year. A dearly wonderful lady. Leaving us all with our”cross to bare ” which she did with dignity.
Reply
Susie Okimoto-Draper
July 1, 2017 at 3:43 am
Lisa & Greg I am so very sorry for your loss. Your mom was a sweet lady . Always funny & kind. She watches over you and your families . I pray God holds you all tight giving courage, comfort, strength , peace, & His love.
Love your friend,
Susie Okimoto-Draper
Reply
kim allen
July 1, 2017 at 2:49 pm
Dear family of Grace,
I am so sorry for your loss. She was remarkable in every way. I so enjoyed her stories of California, the police department and her precious family stories. I used to bring her meals on wheels until my retirement. She always brightened my day. You were all very lucky to have such a wonderful woman in your lives. Keep her memories. I would have loved to have attended but saw this too late. My heartfelt condolences to all of you. Kim
Reply
Pat and Gene Johnston
July 1, 2017 at 10:32 pm
Lisa, Greg, We are sending you our thoughts and prayers! We shared many years of friendship with MHS Band and Band Boosters! That friendship continued through the years. Please know whenever we talked she always shared how much she loved and appreciated her family! Aiden and Ethan, I am sure you already know this, but your Grandmother shared all the love she has for you and how good you both were to her!
Reply
Paul Hersek
July 2, 2017 at 12:24 pm
Lisa and Greg,
I am so sorry for your loss. There are people you meet in life who will fill a room with good cheer and laughter – making you most happy that you had a few moments of time with them. To me, your mom was one of those people. Her smile, quick wit, laughter, generosity, big heart, and love for her family all come to mind as I think about Grace. She was lovely.
All my best you you and your family.
Reply
Dian Milton
July 7, 2017 at 11:01 am
I am truly saddened by the loss of your Mother and know she was a very special person in your life. The wonderful memories you have of her will be with you forever and my thoughts and prayers go out to you and the boys at this time.
Reply
Winkel Funeral Home
August 7, 2017 at 12:25 pm
Hello from the Hooge Family to the Howard Family:
Our sincere and heart felt prayers are for Grace upon her passing.
I and my son Michael and daughter Michele remember our mutual gatherings and vacations, now over fifty years ago, with great happiness.
We wish both Greg and Lisa the best in the years to come.
John L. Hooge
Reply
Anne (Essen, Germany)
August 13, 2023 at 8:06 am
Dear Lisa and Greg
Graces‘ laughter is in my heart for all time. It was so much fun and I am so thankful to know her and all of your family during my exchange year in 1984/85. I pray for peace and love for the whole family ♥️
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
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How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
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