Grace L. Rappa

In the early evening hours of May 20, 2024, surrounded by love, prayers, and the angels, she went home to be reunited with her beloved husband, her parents, and the many family and friends who predeceased her during her long and happy 84 years on this earth.
Her name was Grace Linda Rappa, and she was our Amazing Grace.
Born on July 11, 1939, Grace grew up in Southwest Philadelphia as the only child of Stephen and Lena Franco. Although an only child, she spent a lot of time with her cousins, especially in the summer in Pleasantville, NJ, playing board games and going to the family's favorite bakery for crumb cake and sticky buns. She loved music and was classically trained in piano. She attended West Catholic Girls High School where she excelled in her studies. Later, she moved with her parents to Springfield, PA.
At twelve years old she was playing in the Atlantic Ocean when she met the boy who would grow into the man she married at 21 years of age. His name was Anthony John Rappa ("Tony") and the rest of Grace's life was a love story dedicated to him, her children, and grandchildren.
The greatest chapters of Anthony and Grace's love story were written in 1962, 1964, 1967, and 1968 when Grace gave birth to Paulette Rappa, Stephen Rappa, Brian Rappa, and Andrea Rappa-Cline, respectively. All four of Grace and Tony's children survive her.
When her children were old enough to start school, Grace entered the workforce. For over twenty-five years, she worked as the principal's secretary at Saint Theresa's School. Fittingly for a master storyteller like Grace, it was she who started the school's library. To this day, whenever a St. Theresa student falls in love with a story they read in a library book, a piece of Grace lives on. Grace and Tony graciously supported the tuition for families that could not afford to attend St. Teresa's. Grace's work at St. Teresa's extended beyond the school day when she taught CCD and was actively involved in preparing students for the sacraments.
Once Grace retired from St.Theresa, she wrote new chapters of her love story, this time dedicated to her community. She was the director of St. Theresa's prayer line where she organized other callers to pray for those in need of prayer. Every month she spent hours making PB&J sandwiches for the indigent. She sewed beautiful quilts for those suffering from medical ailments and she was a eucharistic minister.
More chapters of Grace and Tony's love story were written when Paulette and Andrea each gave birth to four children and their son Brian selflessly devoted himself to his many pets who he loves as fiercely as any parent. From Paulette, Grace and Tony were blessed with Constance, Abigail, Jared, and Aaron. From Andrea, they were blessed with Julia, Jack, Genevieve and Jacob.. All eight grandchildren survive Grace.
To Constance, Abigail, Jared, Aaron, Julia, Jack, Genevieve, and Jacob, Grace Rappa was and is the greatest Mommom that ever lived. And they told her that in the last hours. Grace Rappa, the master gardener that she was, lived to see all the chapters of her love story gather at her cherished Glendora home to give her her flowers at the end.
Amazing Grace was playing as her soul went home. How sweet the sound. And how fitting for a woman who blessed so many with her grace: grace through her cooking, which enriched the bellies of her children and grandchildren; grace through her story telling, which spooked and delighted her grandchildren; grace through her quilting, which gave comfort to the suffering; grace through her gardening, which brightened this earth; and grace through her sheer force of will, which instilled awe in everyone who bore witness to it.
The last thing Grace heard was a beautiful story about her own grace:
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Although Grace went home to be with the Lord and her beloved husband, her love story with Tony has many epilogues: Twelve of them are walking around: Paulette, Stephen, Brian, Andrea, Constance, Abigail, Jared, Aaron, Julia, Jack, Genevieve and Jacob continue her legacy of grace and the seeds of blessings she planted in all of them.
There will be a viewing from 9:30am until 11:30am on Tuesday, May 28 at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral mass 12-noon at Holy Child Parish - St. Teresa RC Church. Entombment at St. Joseph's Cemetery and Mausoleum.