Franklin J. Grace, 61, of New Bedford died Friday September 23, 2005 at the Veterans Adminstration Medical Center in West Roxbury after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in New Bedford, the son of John G. Grace of New Bedford and the late Katherine (Fonseca) Andrade, he had lived in New Bedford for all of his life.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church.
Mr. Grace was formerly employed as a pipefitter with Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 51 for over 30 years until his retirement in 2002.
He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and was a recipient of the National Defense service medal, the Vietnamese Service medal with one star, the Vietnamese Campaign medal and the Rifle Marksman badge.
Mr. Grace was a member of the Cape Verdean-American Veterans Association. He had been a coach for Little League baseball. An avid sports fan, he especially enjoyed football.
Survivors include his father; a son, Matthew Grace of Dartmouth; two sisters, Donna Beverly of New Bedford and Wendy Barros, and her husband John, of Dartmouth; five brothers, Henry "Ricky" Grace, and his wife Brenda, Manuel Andrade, Jr., Donald Andrade, and Warren Andrade, all of New Bedford, and Stanley J. Grace, and his wife Ifeta, of Mt. Clemens, Michigan; his wife, Lisa (Silva) Grace of Dartmouth; and several nieces and nephews.
He was the stepson of the late Manuel Andrade.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, Tuesday September 27, 2005 at 8 AM. Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church at 9 AM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours will be on Monday September 26, 2005 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Burial with Military Honors will be in Rural Cemetery.