FREEPORT – Grace Brescia, died Oct. 21, 2006, surrounded by family at home, after a valiant six-year battle with breast cancer. She was born Dec. 30, 1960, in Caribou, the second of five children to Clyde and Lina (Cyr) Jepson of New Sweden. A 1979 graduate of Caribou High School, Grace graduated from Dartmouth College in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She attended Assumption College, Worcester, Mass., in the masters program in marriage and family counseling. In 1984, she married Michael Brescia, a high school classmate and the love of her life. In her professional life, she worked in fundraising for Vassar College, Duke University, and most recently Bowdoin College for nine years. At the same time, she supported her husband’s career and they built a wonderful life together. As a volunteer, she served on the parish council for St. Jude’s Catholic Church, Freeport, was a member of the church choir and was head of the annual church Christmas fair and other parish events. She served on the board of directors at St. John’s Catholic School, Brunswick; was a member of the board of the Midcoast Chapter of the American Red Cross; and a member of the Brunswick Rotary Club. Her greatest pride was being a wife and mother. In recent years, Grace and her family enjoyed frequent travel together, including annual trips to Florida, as well as numerous peaceful summer days at their cottage on Embden Pond. She dedicated herself to creating many wonderful family memories for her children. Grace loved to laugh, to watch her children grow, to spend time with family, to visit the family farm in New Sweden, and to give of herself to others. Grace developed extraordinary friendships in her life and these were a great comfort to her throughout her illness. Motivated by love for her family, Grace demonstrated incredible courage and strength throughout her struggle and did so with grace and dignity. She is survived by her devoted husband, Michael Brescia; son, Dominic and daughter, Margaret “Maggie;” her parents, Clyde and Lina Jepson of New Sweden; three sisters, Lisa Wahlstrom and her husband, Jeff, of Bangor, Sheila Jepson and her husband, Rick Lynch, of Portland, Dawn Moreau and her husband, Claude, of Vernon, Conn.; one brother, Todd Jepson and his wife, Lael, of Portland; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Richard and Elizabeth Brescia of Newport; two sisters-in-law, Teresa Duplisea of Bangor and Colleen Brescia of Portland; two brothers-in-law, Richard Brescia and his wife, Brigette, of Brunswick, Phillip Brescia and his wife, Anissa, of Ocala, Fla.; nephews and nieces, Carl and Nils Wahlstrom, Jacques and Elise Moreau, Couper Jepson, Matthew, Alexandra and Christopher Duplisea, Ryan and Madeline Brescia, Jonathan Brescia, Jennifer and Jessica Nisbett. Relatives and friends may attend calling hours 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at Brackett Funeral Home, Federal Street, Brunswick. A funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, corner of Main and School Streets, Freeport, with a reception immediately after at the church. Grace’s wishes were that gifts in her memory be made to St. John’s Catholic School, 37 Pleasant St., Brunswick, ME 04011; the Maine Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 1626, Bangor, ME 04402-1626; or to Sacred Heart Parish/St. Jude’s Church, 326 Main St., Yarmouth, ME 04096. www.brackettfuneralhome.com
GRACE MARTHA JEPSON BRESCIA
