Grace Danskin

Grace Danskin

July 11, 1929 - August 29, 2015

Raleigh

Grace Danskin found her way to heaven's gate on Saturday, August 29, 2015. She passed away peacefully at home in Raleigh, after having spent the previous night enjoying herself at a party surrounded by family and the love of her life, her husband, Stirling Danskin. She caught his eye at a dance, and they continued to dance happily together for 64 years. As a young couple, they drove all over to watch stock car races, and later in life they enjoyed summer evenings together sipping gin & tonics on the porch. They displayed a closeness and love that are rarely seen, and served as the model for a successful, happy marriage for the entire family. Like teenagers newly in love, they never lost the twinkle in their eyes for one another, and were forever stealing kisses in the kitchen. She had a most adventurous and spunky spirit, and life was always exciting to her, whether she was living abroad, going for a motorcycle ride, or dreaming about skydiving. She was surrounded during her life with the love of her three children, Christine, Stirling, and Bruce; her grandchildren, Jennifer, Katherine, Elizabeth, Jillian, Galen, Stirling, John, Max, Sam, and Sandra; her great-grandchildren, Christian, Stirling, and Phillip; her daughters in law, Phyllis and Karen; and her son in law, Tom.

Grace, or Gizella, as her birth certificate names her, was born on July 11, 1929, in New Brunswick, NJ to her Hungarian parents, John and Theresa Leposa. Raised in the Catholic tradition on Plum Street, with her brothers and sisters, Frank, Jack, Margie, Anna, Julia, Mary, and Helen during the Depression, she learned to work hard and to value her family and faith. As a young lady, she attended the neighborhood Catholic school and graduated from St. Peter's High School. She frequented the dance halls of New York City with her sisters, decked out in her signature mink coat and fabulous hats. During school she worked in a bakery and kept accounts in her head without the aid of calculators. The bakery shop experience stayed with her throughout her life as she enjoyed baking for the family. She made elaborate cakes for family birthdays (including an extra special one for the birthday that she shared with her twin granddaughters). Her math ability was put to good use when she became head bookkeeper at Diamond Label. After she married Stirling, she left her family home in New Brunswick and moved to New York, England, and finally North Carolina. Grace was remarkably lucky and constantly seemed to win contests and prizes, most notably a trip to Barbados with her husband.

She loved to cook and no family dinner was complete without her legendary delicious apple pie, poppy seed cake, Kifli cookies, and cole slaw. Ever practical, she grew a meticulous vegetable garden, kept her sewing machine humming creating upholstery covers for couches and elaborate square dancing dresses, and spent her time being as useful as she knew how to be. She knew how to have fun as well, and always was happy to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She watched Max, Sam and Sandra for many years and often took them to the local swimming pool, making sure they had snacks, and fed them all the way home in the car. She wanted everyone around her to be happy (and full).

She was generous with her family, her church, and charities. She truly had the gift of gab and never met a person that she couldn't find something in common with to talk and laugh about. She had a giving heart, and if you complimented her on a piece of jewelry or item in her house, the next thing you know she would be packing it up and trying to give it away. There was no such thing as a quick visit with Grace – any visitor to the house would be rewarded with a glass of juice, a cookie, a bouquet of freshly picked flowers, and a big hug. She was a wonderful, kindhearted woman who always saw the brightest side of every situation and pushed those around her to focus on finding happiness.

She continued her quiet faith journey throughout her life and always found time to go to church and give thanks for her many blessings. She and Stirling were daily regulars at the water aerobics classes at the local YMCA, loved simple family vacations at Cape Hatteras in a pop up camper, and were accomplished square dancers, with Grace dressed to the nines in colorful petticoats and skirts. Above all else she enjoyed the love of her family.

She made the most of her time on this planet and spread joy to everyone around her. She was an ageless beauty her whole life, with amazing skin and a figure that just wouldn't quit. Her gorgeous smile and adorably sweet laughter will be sorely missed, but we are comforted to know she is with the angels and is watching over us.

Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday at 11 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Raleigh, NC. Memorial donations may be made to the Raleigh YMCA, 1603 Hillsborough Street.

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