Grace Marie Johnson

Grace Marie Johnson, 68, passed away peacefully at home on June 25th. She courageously battled Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA) for over 4 years, never losing her positive outlook on life, her sense of humor, or her strong faith in God.

Grace leaves behind her devoted husband, Robert, her two beloved children and their spouses, Kristina (John) and Benjamin (Bethany), and three grandchildren whom she adored, Thaddeus, Penelope, and Annika. She was also survived by many nieces and nephews and her cousins Liz and Jennifer. In addition, she was blessed to have several cherished life-long friends that she considered family.

Grace was born in Putnam, CT, on September 13, 1956 to Estonian immigrants Laas and Ludmilla Paju. Her parents fostered a strong faith in God and pride in her Estonian heritage, both of which remained central to her identity. A trip to Estonia in 2014 to experience the homeland of her parents was one of the highlights of her life.

She attended Putnam High School and graduated from UCONN's school of nursing at age 20. Grace was a compassionate and caring person. She worked at the Dempsey Center and at St. Luke's family practice, but found her true calling as school nurse at the Woodstock Elementary School where she was beloved by students, staff, families, and the community during her 28 years of service.

Grace and Bob were married in 1977 and raised their two children in Woodstock. Family time has always been one of Grace's greatest joys. Grace's other devotion was to God. She was a member of Woodstock Covenant Church, and her strong faith fueled her positive attitude, generosity, and compassion. Anyone who knew her knows she loved hummingbirds, a reminder to her of God's marvelous creation and His care for the smallest creatures.

One of Grace's favorite places was the beach and her treasured family cottage in Westerly, RI. She shared wonderful times there with family and her best friend Sharon. She shared the cottage with so many others who made memories there. She loved to travel, plan "mystery rides", attend festivals, and enjoy nature, continuing to do so even after she was confined to a wheelchair.

A memorial service to celebrate Grace's life will be held on Monday, July 14, at 2:00pm at the Woodstock Evangelical Covenant Church in Woodstock, CT with a casual reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to Estonian Christian Ministries or Mission MSA.