Grace Louise Mainvil

Know that we remember Grace with much fondness and send our prayers to you all from Mundaka. --Stephanie, Estefania & Michael

Grace showed us all the power of a smile, the great gift of listening and was a master at lifting everyone up to a better place. She was a class act and I have the perfect image of Grace and John walking down 5th Avenue in New York City in their striking wool coats on a crisp February morning of 2010. We went to see Hidden in Plain Sight at Ellis Island and I remembered savoring the moment of watching them so comfortable yet so distinguished, fitting in so well in a city you could say was the extreme opposite of the high desert. That image made me wonder how it might feel to retire successfully from sheep ranching and enjoy retirement as they did. Just a month ago I had the chance to speak to Grace and John from the airport as I left Boise and throughout the conversation she craftily shifted the focus back to my family, checking on everyone. That was Grace…so selfless and kind to everyone. I feel thankful that she and my Mom became close friends almost forty years ago as chauffeurs to Oinkari practice and that such a friendship would be passed on to me and grow over the years. While I reflected on all these gifts last Saturday as we sat with Jill at Loyola, the priest spoke of the importance of celebrating all of the simple things in life. Now that was Grace. Our hearts go out to you, John, Janice, Joanne, Louise, Linda, Jill, Scott…please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all.