Grace Delia Winsper, age 7, passed away peacefully at home and in the presence of her parents, Jessica and Michael.
Grace, who loved the color purple and would get a good case of the giggles when happy, lived courageously with West Syndrome and never spent a day without a member of her family by her side.
Grace leaves behind her devoted parents, as well as her two loving siblings, Tobey and Abigail. She also is survived by her paternal grandparents, Joseph and Mary Winsper of New Bedford, and her maternal grandparents, Vivian LaFrance of New Bedford, and Paul and Sharon Starkie of Fairhaven, as well as numerous great-aunts, great-uncles, aunts, uncles, and cousins who will miss her dearly.
Grace and her family thank the countless caregivers who gave their time and resources to her care. In particular, the Winsper family thanks Dr. John Giantias and Dr. Carl Christian Jackson who followed Grace from her first days at Tufts Children’s Hospital, Dr. Lawrence Milner, Dr. Michael Koster, Dr. Kristen Lombardi, Dr. Kevin Scully, Dr. Michael Herliznger, Dr. Stephanie Marchant, and Dr. John Bender. The family also gratefully acknowledges Hope Health Hospice and Pedi Pal Services, as well as Grace’s therapists from the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative and Alexa Fortier of the Carroll Center for the Blind.
Her Memorial Mass will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford on Tuesday February 6th at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers and remembrances, the family encourages you to donate in Grace’s name to the Mighty Meredith Project at www.mightymeredith.com. Meredith Casey and Grace shared the same physicians and the Casey family has been a source of support for Grace and many children at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.