Grace Mary Randazzo

We are all created by God -- men & women -- yet the bible and other sacred scripture say that no man or woman is perfect, that we all fall short of the glory of God. But Grace Mary Randazzo, the unselfish, loving, and compassionate daughter of Girolamo & Rosaria, the wife of Tony Randazzo, mother of RoseAnn, Nina, Joseph and Anthony, comes very very close. Such a person we call saintly, she loved us all -- she loves us still -- and we return that love, now and forever.

In commemoration of the one-year anniversary of her passing on October 14, 2009, we would like to share with you some of the joy and blessed memories she gave to us, her family.

Early Life

Grace Mary Randazzo was born Jan. 1, 1929 in her house at 12th & Carpenter in South Philadelphia. Her father was Girolamo Sparacio and her mother was Rosaria Sparacio (maiden name Badalamenti). Times were tougher then as it was the year of the Great Depression. Both her parents were born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily. Life was even tougher in Carini at the time, so they chose to stay in the U.S. Grace was the youngest of 4 children: Joseph, George and Mary were her beloved siblings.

She was a good student and although not really athletic, bragged that she hit a home run on the roof of her high school, Bok. She wasn't allowed to ride a bike when she was little, and never wanted to learn how to drive. Once when her husband left the car in drive after he hopped out of the car to buy something, she hit the gas instead of the brakes and went flying across Baltimore Pike. Luckily no one was injured.

She was introduced to her husband Tony by her parents when she was 20 years old, and they married when she was 22 years old on Feb. 2, 1952. They had four children: RoseAnn, Nina, Joseph and Anthony.

Tough Survivor

Grace was a tough survivor. She had rheumatoid arthritis in her 40s, went through 3 knee replacements, 8 fractured vertebrae, hypertension, thyroid condition, borderline diabetic, breast cancer and osteoporosis. Even with all this physical distress, her mind was sharp as a tack and she had a memory like an elephant. She endured the tragic death of her husband 17 years before she passed on. The last year of her life she suffered excruciating headaches and then a severe stroke in September which took her life. Through it all, she still stayed positive, prayed and cared for everyone else.

Advocate for the Less Fortunate

She needed to live in a nursing home because of her back surgery and arthritis. Even there, she helped and advocated for those who couldn’t speak up for themselves. When some people go to a nursing home, they become depressed and lose their motivation to live. Not Grace, she embraced it and continued living life to the fullest. In fact, often when her children or family members called her, she was very difficult to find as she was constantly participating in multiple social, cultural or artistic activities. It was like calling a CEO of a large company -- sometimes she had to rush us off the phone so she could get to her social life. Shortly after she moved in, she was nominated and served as the President of the Resident Association, as well as serving on the food committee which met every week. She maintained office of President until she became hospitalized before her death. She helped improve the meal menu of the nursing home as well as the general environment to a more nurturing and positive one.

Six months before her passing, she was selected to sing in a little group of residents called the Three Piasanos, not often confused with the Three Tenors. She called her kids and sang to them regularly to practice for her performance.

When any of her friends in the nursing home were dying, their families would ask Grace to help comfort them and she would help both those dying and their families with her kind words and prayers.

She was always a social butterfly, and it was no different at the nursing home. She befriended everyone, and everyone knew her by name -- employees, residents, administrators and staff.

She was also selected an Ambassador for Peace by the Universal Peace Federation because of her lifetime of peacemaking activities involving family, friends, neighbors and the Resident Association of her care facility. The founder of the Universal Peace Federation has taught that death is a sacred thing. "It is not," he said, "a synonym for sadness and suffering. It is the last of three great transitional events in our lifetime."

Spiritual Life

God sent angels to her in her last few weeks of life. Grace was not really responding to the doctors but one of the nurses could always get her to respond. Her name was Tanya and she called herself Grace's black granddaughter. She even used her break time to come wash Grace's hair the day before she passed away.

One day a Catholic Sister visited Grace and when she left asked Grace if she would like a rosary tied to her bed. Even though Grace was not moving much at that time, she lifted up her arm and extended her hand, as if to say, "I want the rosary in my hand." She held that rosary until the day she passed.

The day before her passing, one of her favorite singers, Al Martino also passed -- we're sure he is singing at her welcome to heaven party.

Prayer Warrior

Grace had a long list of people she prayed for every day. She prayed for family members, friends and residents of the nursing home. She faithfully asked God's blessing upon them all -- and prayed for jobs, health, and especially for the safety of her grandchildren. She prayed so much that she said the prayers started coming out of her mouth automatically as she awoke each morning.

When her son took her to visit the shrine of Padre Pio, her headaches were so bad that she was throwing up there. As she clutched her rosary, she said, "I guess God wanted me to suffer like this so I could feel how God suffered."

Father Hansen visited Mom in the hospital and said "I feel like I am kissing the hand of a saint. I am honored to give her the Anointing of the Sick sacrament."

Her children remember her going to Mass every day. Especially when Anthony was an altar boy and had to do the 8 am Mass every day in sixth grade, Grace sat front and center and bragged to everyone. Anthony's altar boy career abruptly ended when he accidentally stood on a bride's veil knocking it off her head during her wedding ceremony. His termination as an alter boy broke his mother's heart.

A Generous Soul

Grace's generosity had no bounds -- to family, friends and even strangers. She had a sense of who was in need and gave of herself unconditionally. She truly lived for the sake of others.

If you told her you liked her dress, or her necklace, she would ask "Do you want it? You can have it." When her children's friends visited, even at 2 in the morning, she would start pulling food out of the fridge to feed everyone. She knew everyone's favorite dish and had it ready if she knew they were visiting.

When someone left, even to take an airplane somewhere, she would stuff their bags with food, even if she had to chase you down the driveway when you were leaving, throwing apples and bananas in the car windows.

A Woman of Unconditional Love

Until the day she passed, Grace radiated love. Grace wrote a letter to her children and enclosed a picture in an envelope to be opened after her passing. It is a picture of her with her usual beaming smile with the words "Be happy" written on it. She was even thinking of comforting us all after her passing.

She was a most kind and gentle woman and everyone loved her. She made friends easily and could strike up a conversation with anyone. She was a very humble woman and she selflessly lived for her family and friends. Even the nurses in the hospital thanked us for having been part of caring for her in her last days.

Wise and Loving Grandmother

Grace loved her grandchildren more than anything in the world. She flew to Oregon and was there for the birth of RoseAnn and Steve's 4 children. She held them and sang to them and gave them the best possible beginning of a great life.

Her grandchildren wish to share these stories a few days after her passing:

Daniella (3) says "I love you Grandma! Grandma's in my heart." 

Anthony (5) says "Grandma feels better now." Nicky (2) says "Grandma feels better now" and he blew her a kiss.

Her grandson Christopher (20) volunteered at the nursing home during his senior year of high school. He came there every week and enjoyed doing this. All the residents loved him, and his grandmother was very proud of him. She introduced him to everyone as her grandson Christopher. Every time he walked in her face was gleaming with joy as he helped with the activity. The residents loved him so much, they were waiting by the front door for him to arrive. He received an excellent letter of recommendation from the administrator of the home, which Grace framed and hung on her wall.

Once when Grace was babysitting her then-8-year-old grandson Joseph, he developed a bloody nose. She was so startled and worried that she called 911. Paramedics, fire trucks and ambulances were dispersed to the home. When his parents called to check in, they found out the entire Voorhees, New Jersey Police and Fire Department were at the home, scaring the heck out of them. Fortunately, his parents did not have a heart attack and their son survived his bloody nose. 

Kacie (14) says Grandma was always in a good mood and was cheerful around everybody. She always wanted to hear about all her grandchildren to make sure they were doing well. She was always in her best mood whenever she was around her family; her family was always in a good mood when she was around.

Jeremy (19) says what he noticed most about Grandma was that she was always light-hearted. She never hesitated to speak her mind, which made her an extremely honest and funny human being. Even into her eighties, she knew how to party. Sometimes adults lose their childish traits as they grow old, but Grandma held on to hers, something that everyone should learn how to do. I never saw guilt or regret on her face. She only appeared as if to be full of joy and love, which was always the case.

Jackson (17) says "She inspired me to never give up on my dreams and I know she is supporting me from above. I am grateful for every moment I had with my dear grandma. I love her dearly."

When Joshua (21) was about 5 years old and we were discussing how no one is perfect and we all have the inability to love unconditionally, he said of his grandmother "That's not true -- Grandma is perfect because she loves everyone."

A Funny Story

Though there were lots of funny stories in Grace's life, we will share this one. Grace was fearlessly protective of her children. Once when her 20-year-old son Joseph was in a physical altercation with a drunk driver, and although Joe was in control of the situation, his mom stepped in and pulled the man's hair, saying "Leave my son alone!"

Yes, sweet, kind and considerate Grace could be tough and hard as brick -- when she needed to.

Ending and Beginning

Grace is a true daughter of God and is now happily at home with her Heavenly Parent. Love never ends. It is stored in our hearts forever. Grace's life is eternal, because the love she shared with us will be stored in our hearts forever.

Leo Buscaglia wrote: "I know for certain that we never lose the people we love."

Locate on Walk:

• Stage Wall (Left Wall), 2-4