Mary Grace Ferreira

Mary “Grace” Ferreira was a force of nature that will always remain with us. Grace passed away peacefully on December 5th, 2022, surrounded by the love of family and friends following a prolonged illness. Born December 16, 1942 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late John and Mary Ferreira; she was the eldest sibling of four. Grace is survived by her brothers Raymond (Claire) Ferreira, Dennis Ferreira and Danny (Donna) Ferreira. She was a loving aunt to Stephanie (Chris) Silman, Samantha (Jeremy) Schultz, Danny jr (Joyce) Ferreira, Jen (Kevin) Thomas, Jodie Ramirez, Aaron Ferreira, and Kurt (Summer) Ferreira. Great aunt to Meagan Armas, Sara and Jair Ramirez, Meredith and Addison Silman, and Alexis, Elizabeth, Adelaide and Matilda Ferreira. Great-great aunt to Haven and Harlowe Arnzen. Important in Grace’s life was her best friend and long-time confidant Kris Losman. Through the good times and bad, Kris and Grace lived, laughed and loved. Always a trailblazer, Grace was the first in her family to graduate from college, receiving her BSc and MA from University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1965 and 1967, respectively and MSc from Arizona State University in 1969. The first in her family to move to the desert southwest, she made Phoenix, Arizona her home in 1969, remaining there for the remainder of her life. The majority of her siblings would soon follow. Always curious about the world, Grace’s passion for learning and education began early. After graduating college, she began teaching at Berkshire Community College in Massachusetts in 1968, taking a teaching position at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona in 1970, a position she retained till retirement in 2014. A lover of science and more specifically Physics, Grace prided herself on conveying the wonders of the world to her students in a fun, exciting, and memorable manner. This passion did not end with retirement, as many who are lucky enough to know Grace are well aware. Another passion of Grace’s was volunteering within her community. For over two decades and right up until her passing, Grace served as the board president for her homeowners association. She worked tirelessly to better the community she loved and for which she was a longtime member. A lover of travel and the outdoors, Grace spent most of her freetime criss-crossing the continent in her RV, a hobby she also inspired many in her family to join. Whether hiking or fishing, with her dogs by her side, the outdoors brought out the happy, free spirit that defined Grace. Visits from her always included exciting details of her latest adventures. Visits also included Grace’s love of music that she shared with all around her. With her guitar and her voice, Grace entertained family and friends with songs that were both poignant and humorous. Grace was a true lover of life; she was a humorous storyteller, an avid reader, a compassionate friend and family member, and a person who marched to the beat of her own drum. She was a one-of-a-kind person who will be missed and remembered by those who were fortunate enough to know her. Services will be held January 7, 2023, at Angels Cremation & Burial in Mesa, AZ.