Grace Perconte

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of Grace Vita Perconte. She passed away on Friday, August 16th, 2024 at the age of 94. Born in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, she moved to New Jersey and started a family with the birth of her daughter Carmel Ann Perconte in 1964. Her son Anthony Joseph Perconte was born in 1968. Grace was a loving mother that worked long hours while taking care of her family.
Grace or "Gracie the Waitress" as she was known within the Diner community was much more to those who had the chance to know her. She worked as a waitress until the age of 72 and loved the interactions with her customers while working at The Echo Queen, Lido, Cranford and Westfield Diner over the years.
Grace had many hobbies and loved her bus trips to Atlantic City where she would shop on the boardwalk and play a roll or two of quarters in the slot machines. Her shopping trips would usually result in her buying things for her friends and family. She was always thinking of the people she loved and was more concerned about taking care of family than having family take care of her. While living in Westfield she was a neighborhood mom to many and was adored by the community of Westfield.
During the summer months in the 1980's, she loved spending time walking around the flea market at the Circle Drive-In movie lot located @ Clarks Summit, Pa. with her son Anthony. Grace had helped her parents Nellie and Joseph Mecca (later changed to Mack) with the purchase of their home in Dunmore, Pa. Always taking care of her family, she worked to provide for others and was willing to do whatever was needed without complaints or regrets.
Even in her final days, she loved visits from her family and would still laugh and smile when her grandchildren (Anthony and Gianna) arrived at her bedside. She battled health issues from her early 60's but was a true fighter that never gave up.
She was predeceased by her daughter, Carmel Ann in 2014 and husband, Thomas in 2023.
Grace is survived by her son, Anthony; daughter-in-law Helen; grandchildren, Gianna Rose, and Anthony Joseph Jr.
A public visitation will be at Dooley Colonial Home, 556 Westfield Ave, Westfield, from 4 pm to 6 pm on Sunday, August 25th, 2024. A short prayer service will begin at 6 pm. A gathering will take place on Monday, August 26th, 2024 from 10am to 11am at Dooley Colonial Home. Interment will Follow at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in Grace's name to The Muscular Dystrophy Association.