Blanca R. Gracia, 85, Enjoyed the Outdoors and Collecting Baby Figurines

She was born May 5, 1925 in Morovis, Puerto Rico. She came to Lorain in 1949.

Mrs. Gracia was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and a dear friend. "We could not have asked for a better Mother".

She was a active member of Sacred Heart Chapel in Lorain since it's founding in 1952, where she was a member of the Renovacion Caresmatica, Cursillista, Encuentro Matrimonial and Juan XXIII Movement and a neighborhood prayer group. God and her Catholic Faith was very important in her life. She set a great example to everyone, especially her family.

Blanca enjoyed collecting baby figurines, music and dancing. She enjoyed nature and sunshine by gardening and walking around Oakwood Park and she loved laughter.

She will be deeply missed by her son Deacon, Jose A. "Tony" (Teresa) DeGracia of Lorain, her daughters Lucy (Alfredo) Guzman and Norma (Tom) Ives both of Lorain, sisters Teresa Otero of Bronx, New York and Delia Otero of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, her granddaughter Rachel (Richard) Vaughn of Lorain, her great grandchildren Joseph and Kurt Vaughn of both Lorain, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years in June of 1999, her parents Reyes Otero and Georgina Rodriguez, her sisters Aida and Ida and her grandchildren Joseph and Marla DeGracia in December of 1996.

Her family will receive friends Thursday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Richard J. Reidy Funeral Home, 1783 East 31st Street, South Lorain, (440) 277-8164. Her family will also receive friends Friday from 8 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel, 4301 Pearl Avenue, Lorain. Rev. William A. Thaden will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.