Grace L. Wyld

Wyld, Grace L. GUILDERLAND Grace L. Wyld of Albany, quietly and peacefully passed away with amazing grace on June 19, 2007 at the age of 97. She was the daughter of Edward M. and Mary E. Sheehan of Albany. Grace was a communicant of Holy Cross Parish in Albany and St. John Francis Regis in Grafton, N.Y. She was pre-deceased by her loving husband John S. Wyld Sr.; her brother, Edward W. and twin siblings, Mary and Joseph Sheehan. Also, predeceased by her daughter, Joyce Ann Lasseter and her husband H. David Lasseter. Survived by Joyce's twin sister, Gail L. Wyld of Dorset, Vt. and Grace's son, John S. Wyld Jr. and his wife Elizabeth Allen Wyld of Albany. Her grandchildren, Stewart W. Lasseter and his wife Alexa of Prescott, Ariz., Diana Lasseter Drake and her husband Gary Drake of Pennington, N.J., Elizabeth C. Wyld, Lynda J. Smith, John S. Wyld III and his fiancee Victoria L. Palmer, all of Albany. G.G. Grammy is also loved by her great-grandchildren, Julia Grace Drake and Victoria Rose Smith-Wyld. Grace lived her entire life in Albany and except for a brief period when she and Jack first married, lived in the house where she was born on Western Avenue. Since late 2002, she was a resident at the Lady of Mercy Life Center in Guilderland. Grace not only lived in but loved Albany and was active in many civic and charitable causes throughout her life. Early on she was a member of the St. Peter's Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, following her mother and aunt's example. Also as the "twins" grew she was actively involved with the Vincentian Institute and College of Saint Rose mother's organizations. When the girls were in their junior year at St. Rose, a new chapter in Grace's life began, she gave birth to John Jr. and this would lead her to many new life experiences both challenging and satisfying. In addition to school activities and summers at Forest Lake with her family, Grace became even more actively involved in the community of Albany. She loved gardening and was a past president of the Garden Study Club of Albany. She was a member and officer of the Legislative Women's Club, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at Albany Medical Center and Vanguard. She was also a past chairman of the annual Albany Tulip Festival. For many years, Grace was an integral part of the Albany Institute of History and Art. She volunteered in the "shop" and went on numerous buying trips across the country, and frequently served on the "Champagne Ball" committee. Her service to the Institute culminated as a long time member of the Women's Council serving as president from 1972-74. Although Jack's death in 1985 caused much sorrow, Grace remained determined to live life to the fullest. She became a member of Wolfert's Roost Country Club so she could continue to entertain family and friends. She traveled abroad a number of times with her daughter, Gail. She and her family traveled to winter destinations in Fla., Hawaii, the Caribbean and summers at Forest Lake. In 2002, when her health no longer permitted her to maintain her home in Albany, Grace became a member of the Lady of Mercy Life Center community and it is with a tremendous amount of gratitude that the family wishes to express our deepest thanks to all the members of the Lady of Mercy staff. They have been truly a blessing. Funeral services Saturday at 8:15 a.m. from the McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 North Allen Street, Albany thence to Holy Cross Church, Albany at 9:00 a.m. where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Relatives and friends are invited and may call Friday, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Interment will follow the Mass in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. Gifts in memory of Grace may be made to the Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, St. Peter's Hospital Foundation, or the Bleeding Disorders Association of Northern New York.