Barbara J. Grace

Barbara J. Grace, 77, of New Bedford passed away Tuesday February 10, 2026.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Joan C. (Cardoza) Grace and Augustine A. Grace, the family moved to Boston in January of 1960. She graduated from Jeremiah Burke High School in Boston, Class of 1966 and attended the School of Fashion Design and later Lesley College. She graduated from the Clemente Course for Humanities and then attended and excelled in art classes at UMass Dartmouth in 2015.

In 2021 at the age of 72, she received the Ace Excellence Award for outstanding achievement in Education from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Southeast region.

Barbara was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, where she was a member of the St. Martin de Porres Guild. She had also been a member of the Martha Briggs Educational Club.

A talented artist, she engaged in crafts including sewing, crocheting, painting, photography and drawing. There was always a project in the works. Even in her last days, she was regularly sketching and drawing.

Barbara was always very fashionable and loved to wear red. She loved socializing with family and friends. We will miss her smile and lively spirit.

She is survived by her siblings, Peter Almeida, Thomas Grace and Joy Grace-Medeiros, all of New Bedford, Stephen Grace and his wife Maria of Braintree, Augustine Grace of Maryland and Camille Grace-Baker of New Jersey; and her nieces and nephews, Shirronda Almeida, Marshall Trammell, Justine Grace, Stephen Grace II and his wife Alina Swonger, Tyler Medeiros, Sean Grace, and Kelly Grace-Gary; and her great-niece, Micah Grace. She also leaves behind several cousins and other close family members and friends.

She was predeceased by her siblings, Carol Almeida-Fortes and Marshall Almeida.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday February 17th at 10 AM at Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Visiting hours will be on Monday February 16th from 4-7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford.