Grace U. Scola

Grace U. Scola of Delray Beach, Fla. and Watch Hill, R.I., formerly of Worcester, died peacefully November 19, 2007 surrounded by her family in the Pinecrest Hospice at Delray Medical Center.

Grace graduated from the former Commerce High School in Worcester, Mass. and Manhattanville College in New York. In 1951, she received a B.S. in Nursing from Boston College. She then worked at Worcester City Hospital as a Director of Nursing. She later graduated with a Masters in Education from Worcester State College in 1974 and a CAGS in 1978 from UMass at Amherst.

Formerly married to the Honorable Robert N. Scola, Grace was very active in the Republican Party and the Arts. She hosted parties at her home for former First Lady Patricia Nixon, Governor John Volpe, numerous other politicians and a variety of entertainers, including pianist, Liberace.

Grace was an avid volunteer, generously donating her time by participating in Literacy programs and working in soup kitchens. She was President of numerous committees throughout the years, including the Beato Angelo Italian Society in Worcester. Grace was an accomplished artist, enjoying painting on velvet and creating stained glass artwork. During the summer months she enjoyed gardening at her home, and spending time with family and friends at the beach. She opened her beach to neighborhood families so that everyone could enjoy the Rhode Island beach that she so loved. Grace was an adventurous traveler, visiting the Far East to walk the great wall of China, visiting the pyramids of Egypt, touring Turkey, Israel, Europe, Hawaii and Panama.

In 1971, Grace was selected to be part of the first group of teachers in the country hired to teach the then controversial Health and Safety Sex Education Course. She continued to teach at South High School in Worcester until she retired in 1981. After her retirement from teaching, she moved to Florida and returned to nursing. In 1983, she accepted a position at King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where she worked for two years. Upon her return from Saudi Arabia, she worked in various nursing homes in Del Ray Beach, Fla. and Westerly, R.I., until her retirement in 2000.

Grace is survived by her six children: Attorney Nunziata S. Reynolds and her husband Tucker Reynolds and grandchildren Jason, Chelsey, and Clayton of Medway, Mass., Judge Robert N. Scola Jr. and his wife Judge Jacqueline Scola and grandchildren Bobby and Billy of Coral Gables, Fla., Grace Gay Penney and grandchildren Holden and Norty of Laguna Beach, Calif., Attorney Anthony J. Scola and grandchild Anthony "A.J." of Holden, Mass., Attorney James F. Scola and his wife Michele and grandchildren Lindsay, James, Jeffrey and Erica of Holden, Mass. and Attorney Nicholas R. Scola and his wife Jill and grandchildren Nicole and Bobby of Griswold, Conn. In addition, she leaves two brothers: F. Milot Underwood of Harwich, Mass. and Col. Joseph Underwood and his wife Michele of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Her brother, James Underwood; and her sister, Jody Taffe, predeceased her. She leaves over fifty nieces and nephews with whom she always enjoyed spending the 4th of July holiday.

Grace's family will greet relatives and friends at Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester, Mass. on Sunday, December 2, 2007 from 3 to 6 p.m. A celebration of Grace's life will be conducted at the funeral home on Monday, December 3, 2007 at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests your participation in the "Toys For Tots" annual drive. In Grace's memory, please bring an unwrapped toy to the funeral home that will be donated to "Toys For Tots" or donate a toy to your local "Toys For Tots" Chapter.