Grace Kearney Wakefield Grace Cecilia Hallahan Kearney died March 16, 2005, at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital after a brief illness. She was born on June 17, 1910, to William M. and Mary J. Donahue Hallahan in Melrose, MA. She was the oldest of 11 children. Grace was taught by the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus and graduated from St. Marys Catholic Grammar and High Schools. She earned an academic scholarship to Rosemont College in Pennsylvania, but was prevented from attending by her father. In his mind and in his house, women were meant to work, marry, and raise children. She landed a job managing the New England office of the Johns Manville Corporation in Boston. During World War II, she volunteered for service with the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. On weekends, she relieved a Coast Watcher so he could spend time with his family. She lived at home until she married Gerald Joseph Kearney of Melrose, MA on May 4, 1947. They bought a large Victorian home in Wakefield to settle into married life and raise a family. When no children appeared after several years, they built a two-bedroom ranch house at 19 Hillcrest Road. Shortly after their new home was completed, at age 42 Grace gave birth to the first of their three children. Grace was a founding member of Saint Maria Goretti Parish in Lynnfield, MA. She twice chaired the Parish Pastoral Council. She was an active member of the Alumnae Association of the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus and served as their National President. In 1983, she was recognized for her service to the association in a ceremony at Rosemont College. Grace was an avid reader and writer. Her short stories were published in several national magazines. As a mental exercise in her later years, she completed any crossword puzzle she could find and always insisted on using a ball point pen. An eraser was an unnecessary bother. Grace is survived by her son, Captain (Retired) Kevin Kearney, Supply Corps, United States Navy, and his wife, Donna; her daughter, Mary Kathleen; her son, Christopher David; her granddaughters, Sarah Adams and Shannon Kearney; her grandson, Jonathan Kearney; four of her siblings: William M. Hallahan, Jr. and his wife, Frances, Richard P. Hallahan, Marjorie Cornett, and Nancy Graglia, and her husband, Henri; her brother- and sister-in-law, Robert and Mary Kearney; her sister-in-law, Edith Doucette, and numerous other in-laws, cousins, nephews, and nieces. If you desire to make a memorial donation in lieu of flowers, the family suggests St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-0050, as it was Graces favorite and she would deeply appreciate the gesture. A wake will be held Sunday, March 20, 2005 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Gately Funeral Service, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose, MA (781-665-1949). A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 21, 2005, at St. Maria Goretti Church, Chestnut St., Lynnfield, MA followed by internment at St Patricks Cemetery, Elm St., Stoneham, MA. At the conclusion of the burial service, the family will receive friends at the home.