Grace L. DeFranzo

Grace L. (Puleo) DeFranzo, age 91 of Salem, beloved wife of the late Joseph A. DeFranzo passed away on Christmas Day, 2024, after a brief illness. Born on December 3, 1933, daughter of the late Charles and Mary (Mattera) Puleo. She was born and raised in Salem and was a graduate of Salem High School in 1951. In 1953 she received a degree in from Chandler School for Women in Boston. One day while working at Puleo's Dairy Bar Grace was asked for a date by a customer named Joe. It was then that they began their love story. Joe and Grace were married for 68 years, blessed with five daughters and their lifelong home they built in 1957.
Grace began her working years at MGH in Boston as a programmer for research studies collaborating with many fellows from Europe and the Boston area. Focused on her marriage and family she left MGH to work evenings in the record room at Salem Hospital for over thirty-one years. As family obligations took over, Grace left her evening work to become an administrator at Salem Therapy Center and followed by Sports Therapy.
She was proud of her Italian heritage and loved cooking the recipes that her mother taught her with her own flair. Grace and Joe looked forward to their yearly vacations on Cape Cod and Fort Myers Beach as well as trips to Aruba with their friends. Grace and Joe were deeply religious and active members of St. Mary's Italian Church in Salem. They served on the Beano committee, the parish council and conducted Pre-Cana classes for married couples.
Grace exemplified love and determination in her life. Against the recommendation of doctors, she was selflessly committed to caring for their special needs daughter, Jody. This was in addition to caring for her four other daughters and working evenings at Salem Hospital. Grace was also the volunteer chairperson for the Easter Seals swimming program for children with disabilities. At the age of sixteen, Jody was diagnosed with cancer and passed away at the age of seventeen in 1985. Another heartbreak she endured was when her daughter Maureen was diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and later passed away in 2001. The strength to persevere was the cornerstone of Grace's life.
Grace spent the last year of her life at The Current assisted living facility in Beverly. She was a favorite of the staff members as they were all won over by her humor and smile. She was lovingly cared for by all the nurses, caregivers, and staff in her final days.
Grace is survived by her daughters Debra Orloff and her husband Gary of Swampscott, Sharon Cody of Danvers, Brenda Schutz and her husband Adam of West Newbury and son-in-law Michael Cooney of Amesbury. Her eight grandchildren Danielle (Orloff) Bettano and her husband Nick, Stephanie Orloff, Michele Cody, Alexander Cody, Ryan Cooney and his wife Kate, and Erin (Cooney) Davis and her husband Tom, Isabel Schutz, Oliver Schutz and three great grandchildren, Sophia Bettano, Hunter Bettano and Cameron Davis. She was sister to Elizabeth DeGrazia of East Freetown, Charlotte Puleo Alimenti of Salem, and Chuck Puleo of Beverly. She was predeceased by her husband Joseph DeFranzo and two beautiful daughters Jody Michele DeFranzo and Maureen Beth (DeFranzo) Cooney with which she will be eternally reunited.
Grace's family would like to thank the staff at The Current Beverly and Care Dimensions Danvers for their compassionate and loving care provided for Grace.
Visiting Hours will be at Murphy Funeral home, 85 Federal Street, Salem, MA on Saturday, January 4th from 9am-10:30am with the funeral service to follow. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA. Please visit www.murphyfuneralhome.com for more information and the online guestbook.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of
Grace L. DeFranzo, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.