April 2, 1922 - March 21, 2013
Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant with thy saints,
where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.
COOPERSTOWN - Grace Welsh, 90, a lifelong resident of Cooperstown, and for the past year a resident of the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home, died Thursday morning, March 21, 2013, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.
She was born April 2, 1922, the daughter of David and Annie Welsh, in Coupar Angus, Perthshire, Scotland. She immigrated to this country with her parents in 1925.
Grace graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1938. She then worked at the Knox School for Girls which was located in what is now the Otesaga Hotel.
She enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II and after training at Hunter College in New York City and Camp Lejeune, NC she served for two years as a Pharmacist Mate at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA. She returned to Cooperstown after her discharge from the Navy on December 23, 1945.
After a short stint at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown she went to work for New York Telephone Company where she served in management positions for the next 40 years. During some of that time she traveled throughout the state as a traveling Chief Operator. She retired in April 1985.
Raised in the Episcopal faith, Grace has been a faithful member of Christ Church in Cooperstown all her life, where she served in many capacities. She was also a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 579 in Cooperstown, and the Native Daughters of Cooperstown.
Grace was a helpful and loving friend to many in the Cooperstown area.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Alistair, Robert and David Welsh, Jr.
Grace is survived by a brother, Douglas J. Welsh of Cooperstown; a sister, Annie Bantham and her husband,Harvey, of Wilton; and a sister-in-law, Becky Welsh of Cooperstown. Also surviving are a niece, Shelley (Mark) Fredericks of West Milford, NJ; nephews, Dan (Kim) Bantham of Merrimack, NH and Tim (Martina) Bantham of Ballston Spa; along with eight great nieces and nephews.
Donations in memory of Grace may be made to Christ Church, 69 Fair Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, the Susquehanna SPCA, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or a charity of one's choice.
The Office of the Burial of the Dead with Holy Eucharist will be offered at 11 a.m. on Saturday, 4 May 2013 in Christ Church, Cooperstown, with Fr. Mark Aaron Michael, rector, officiating. Assisting will be the Rev'd Samuel Bassett Abbott, who will serve as Homilist. The Committal Service and inurnment will follow at the Ecumenical Columbarium in the Church-yard at Christ Church. After the services, all present are invited to a reception in the Parish House.
Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.
