Grayce M. (Brown) Costantini's Obituary
Grayce M. (Brown) Costantini of North Syracuse, NY, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 29, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. Grayce was born in Homer, NY to Irving and Isabelle Brown. Growing up on a farm as one of eleven children, Grayce acquired many lifelong skills, family values, hard work and a love for animals. She attended grade school at St. Mary’s Academy in Cortland, NY and later graduated from Truxton High School. After furthering her education at Cortland Business School, she relocated to Syracuse, NY and worked at the Sears & Roebuck Company in the Credit Department. In Syracuse she made many friends, and it was at one of her friends' weddings that she met her husband of 65 wonderful years, Pietro (Peter) Costantini.
After having children Grayce worked part time in the fabric department at Sears and Roebuck in order to spend more time at home raising her two daughters. She enjoyed volunteering in the school cafeteria as well with the Girl Scouts troops and was always thinking up crafts and projects to do with her daughters. When her children were grown, she went back to work full time as a secretary at several businesses in the Syracuse area. Grayce played an instrumental role in founding the Neighborhood Watch Program in Onondaga County where she worked closely with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department, providing presentations, and helping establish new Neighborhood Watch groups throughout the county.
Grayce was an accomplished seamstress, a skill taught to her by her mother Isabelle. For many years she made clothing for herself and her daughters, shirts and ties for her husband, draperies, tablecloths, napkins, potholders, and aprons to name just a few. If it could be made of fabric, Grayce could make it. One of her most prized creations was her daughter Linda’s wedding dress which she both designed and made.
Grayce was a communicant of St. John the Baptist Church, a member of the Altar Rosary Society and a Eucharistic Minister. She founded and managed the Church’s Bereavement Committee. Along with her husband Peter and a host of volunteers, the committee provided funeral luncheons for parish members' families. Grayce and her husband also spent many years volunteering at the Parish Lenten Fish Frys, working countless hours serving food to all those who attended.
Grayce was predeceased by her son, Mark David; parents, Irving and Isabelle Brown; brothers, Thomas, Jon, and Alan (Sparky) Brown; sisters, Ina Randall, Christine Milspaugh, Mary Lou McCarthy; grandson, John Castle and her many beloved pets.
Surviving to cherish her memory are her loving husband, Peter; daughters, Linda (James) Castle of North Syracuse, Rosemarie (Michael Morrissey) Costantini of Baldwinsville; granddaughter, Jamie Castle of Clay; brothers, William Randall of Marathon, David Brown of Cortland; sisters, Virginia (Robert) Ackley of Richford, Linda (James) Glover of Cortland and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Dr. Hooman Jahromi and the entire staff at St. Joseph’s Cardiology Associates and Hospice of CNY.
A Funeral Mass in celebration of Grayces’ life will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at St. John the Baptist/Holy Trinity Church, 406 Court St. Syracuse, NY, with burial to follow in Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, Baldwinsville. Family and friends may call from 4:00 – 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Rd. (corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse, NY.
Donations can be made in memory of Grayce Costantini to Hospice of CNY.
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