Julia Gracewski

East Lyme — Julia Gracewski of 280 Boston Post Road passed away Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. A school teacher for many years, she was 99 years old.

She was born in Hatfield, Mass., on March 5, 1919. She was the daughter of John and Katherine Mish. She lived her early years in Hadley, Mass., and went on to college at North Adams State Teachers’ College, North Adams, Mass. She earned her bachelor’s degree and started teaching in Agawam, Mass. She married her husband, Stephen Gracewski (deceased March 3, 2000) on June 22, 1947. They were happily married 53 years!

She is survived by her three children, Alan Gracewski of Livermore, Calif., Diane Gracewski of Waterford and Nancy Ginther of Deltona, Fla. She is also survived by her sister, Gladys Kozera of Hadley, Mass. She was the proud and doting grandmother to six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Julia was a member of the Connecticut Education Association and the National Education Association. She taught locally at the Flanders Elementary School, Niantic Center School and Lillie B. Haynes School in East Lyme. She dearly loved teaching. She was well-known by her former students, whom she would often meet in passing on a daily basis. They all remembered her and spoke very respectfully about what she taught them and what a nice person she was. But as much as she loved her profession, she loved her family even more. Her grandchildren received extra attention via babysitting stints and just plain spending time playing with them.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. Viewing will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1. The ceremony will be at the funeral home and Father Maxwell of Saint Matthias Church will officiate. Burial will follow at the East Lyme Cemetery in Flanders.

Memorial contributions to Saint Matthias Church are encouraged as Julia was a long standing member of the St. Matthias Womens Club and loved attending Mass every Sunday.