GRACE,
Phyllis J., 75, passed away peacefully at the very moment her Catholic Last Rights concluded on Sunday 5-4, with her family by her side, after a month long bout with cancer. Born in relative poverty in an E. Ky. coal mining camp, the oldest of 6, she was thrust into a mothers role at age 12 after the death of her mother. When her 3 children were grown, she accomplished her childhood dream to become a nurse. She was dedicated to the children for 30 years as a RN/Charge Nurse at Kosair Children's Emergency room. Baby sitting by day and nursing by night was the routine for years until the tragic death of her youngest daughter Andrea. Phyllis [Nana] assumed the role of mother again for Andrea’s 3 children seeing them through college and marriage for 2 granddaughters and St. Raphael and St X. for the grandson, cut short 1 week by her passing. She was the ultimate caregiver. Her other childhood dream of being Catholic was fulfilled at St. Raphael’s in 2009. Surviving are son Edward Grace, daughter Suzanne Hardsaw, 7 grandchildren 6 great grandchildren and 2 more on the way, and Richard Kesselring.
Her funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 8, 2014 at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 2141 Lancashire Ave. with burial to follow in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday at Highlands Family-Owned Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phyllis J. Grace, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.