HARMONY – Grace T. Mackay, 85, passed away Oct. 19, 2013, at a Bangor hospital. She was born Dec. 5, 1927, in Valley Stream, N.Y., a daughter of Adolph and Thora Antonsen.
Her parents came to America from Norway and raised Grace and her sister, the late Gunhild Appleby in Valley Stream. She was proud of her Norwegian heritage. Grace was a natural beauty in her youth and at the age of 17 won the Miss Valley Stream Pageant. Her youthful appearance in later years always gave her family the joking of “here comes Miss Valley Stream.” She had an amusing personality and her humor was of a “Lucille Ball” comedian. She always made her family laugh. She was wed to her husband, Cliff, for 64 years and together raised their three children in Brentwood, N.Y.
She is survived by her husband, Cliff; daughters, Christine and her husband, James DiMauro, Cindy and her husband, Ronald Strouse, and son, Cliffy; a grandson, Ronnie and his girlfriend, Allison, and their daughter, Eva Jean; and a granddaughter, Kristy and her boyfriend, Kenny. She was “Aunt Gracie” to special niece “daughter,” Rhonda Salica and her partner, Gary, and her family; a nephew, William Appleby and his wife, Velma, and their family; a nephew, James Appleby and his wife, Donna, and their family; a special cousin, Ann Olsen; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and their families.
“Nana”
How do you put a person into words?
How can I accurately portray someone who is loved, and give you a window into something truly one of a kind? Descriptive features come to mind: beautiful, kind, selfless, and endearing, but this are just words. Maybe if I could play her laugh out loud, illustrate her wit, execute her grace, or paint her smile, but still it’s not enough. How do I epitomize a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, a brain, a heart? What beats within ourselves will have to do.. how we feel, what we hold, and know. But believe me when I say days will be darker now, and those not lucky enough to have met Grace Mackay, have missed out on a lifetime of irreplaceable moments. Our memories are enough to draw the conclusion that as it stands, the English language fails to capture, and doesn’t do justice to describe family.
Love, granddaughter, Kristy.
No public services are planned at this time. Arrangements by Crosby & Neal, Dexter. For an online guest register, go to www.CrosbyNeal.com.
Grace T. Mackay
