Grace Duart of Edgartown died on July 22 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. She was 101.
She was born Grazia Ricciardello in East Boston on June 27, 1918, one of two daughters and six sons of Louis Ricciardello and Michalina Mastromarino Ricciardello, both of whom emigrated to America from Italy.
In the 1950s she met Herbert Duart while visiting her sister, Louise Ricciardello, a teacher on Martha’s Vineyard who was dating George Figueiredo. Herbert was George’s best friend. The two couples had a double wedding in Boston and built lives close to each other in Quincy, where Herbert and Grace raised two children, Edward and Louise Ann.
For many years Grace was a bookkeeper and stayed active in local politics.
She enjoyed travel and often accompanied her daughter, comedienne Louise DuArt, who toured for over a decade with Tim Conway and Harvey Korman. She loved the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox and knew every player’s name.
In 2016 she moved in with her daughter, Louise, and son-in-law, SQuire Rushnell, in Edgartown.
Known as Grannie to her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and Auntie to many others, she will be remembered as the life of the party. When she turned 100 last year, she had three big shindigs and was celebrated by four generations of family and friends. Alert and active to the end, she survived cancer twice and said she did so by accepting her doctor’s advice.
Every Christmas she would prepare her homemade ravioli and pizzelle cookies for her family and neighbors and found joy in sharing her experiences of living 101 years. When asked the secret to longevity she simply said, “I am loved.”
She was predeceased by her husband Herbert; her son Edward, and six siblings.
She is survived by her daughter, Louise Ann DuArt; her brother Louis (Gigi) Ricciardello; daughter in law Kathy Duart; six grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren, great-nieces and great-nephews.
A private graveside service will be held by the family on Oct. 19, at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven.
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