Grace Reese

1933 - 2022

Grace Reese was born October 4, 1933 in Cleveland Heights to Ernest and Katherine (Doyle) Chegwidden. She attended schools in Cleveland Heights until 1949 when the family moved to Madison. Grace graduated from Madison High School with the class of 1951 and attended Ohio State University for one year. She later completed her music education at Lake Erie College and the Cleveland Institute of Music. She was best known in the community as a musician and teacher of piano. She was appointed to the Village Planning Commission in 1974 and served through 1978. Grace was appointed to fill a vacancy as a Councilwoman in 1980 and later ran (and was elected as the first woman to serve on council in the village) and served for two terms. She served the village a total of ten years and resigned at the end of 1989 to devote herself to teaching piano full time. During Grace's time as councilwoman she served as president pro tempore of council and served five years on the Madison District Fire Board. She also volunteered at the Madison Food Bank for many years and was a member of various organizations. Grace married Robert Reese on May 1, 1954 at Park Methodist Church and they were members there for 59 years. She served as organist for 29 years and Sunday School Teacher for 10 years. Together they made the decision to join Central Congregational Church in 2005 where she has been active in Bible Study and served on the Board of Christian Education and later became a Deacon. After the death of her husband in 2009 she was fortunate in being asked to play (again) at Chapel Methodist Church and served for four years to a wonderful group of new friends. During this time she continued to attend her own church where she was able to take her two great-grandchildren every Sunday. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Reese; parents; daughter, Nancy Lea Reese; two brothers, Ernest Chegwidden and Raymond Beyer; and two sisters, Enid Szucs and Doreen Bennett. She is survived by daughters, Lori of Mayfield Village, and Leanne (Johnnie) Thomlison of Madison and whom she shared a home with for many years and who lovingly cared for her. Grandchildren, Christopher (Angela) Acord, Jaimie (Britton) Nicholls, Alexandria (Michael Kuth) Thomlison, Paige (Tyler) Gancos, and great-grandchildren, Aleena and Parker McGuire, Julian Nicholls, and Elliana and Milana Kuth. At Grace's request there will be no visiting hours. Memorial service will be held at Chapel United Methodist Church at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Burial will follow at Fairview Memorial Park in Madison Village. In lieu of flowers Grace has suggested donations to The City Mission or the Salvation Army. These are two charities that were dear to her and she supported regularly. Online obituary and condolences may be viewed at www.behmfuneral.com