November 16 2018: WILLIAMS, Grace S.

Grace S. Williams

Grace S. Williams, 93, passed away at Oak Leaf Manor North in Landisville, PA on November 14, 2018. Born Feb. 1, 1925, she was the daughter of Finnish immigrants Aili and Hans Isakson and the sister of Robert (Dorby) Isaacson, all of whom predeceased her. Grace was also preceded in death by her daughter Kathleen Grace whose lifelong struggle with juvenile diabetes ended in 2000.

After high school, Grace left her hometown of Duluth, MN for Washington, DC, where she met fellow Finn Leonard F. Williams; both were members of the Finnish American Youth Club in Takoma Park, MD. The couple married in 1943. They instilled in their three children a love of the outdoors through camping trips to Deep Creek Lake, MD and Cowans Gap, PA, and hours spent canoeing and sailing the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay. World travelers, Grace and Leonard visited over a dozen countries in Europe, South America and the Caribbean until Leonard’s death in 1987.

Retired since 1984, Grace worked for the U.S. Government for thirty years, the last six as secretary to the Commanding Officer at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC.

Grace was a talented seamstress, cook and hostess as well as an avid gardener and reader; she kept a daily diary most of her life. After raising her family in Wheaton, MD and Oxon Hill, MD, she retired to Annapolis, MD and Englewood, FL. Grace moved to Landisville in 2015.

Grace is survived by her children Andrew Williams and partner Kim Pernia, and Laurey Williams; grandchildren Chris Conley and wife Christine, Dustin Koehler and wife Melissa, and Lisa Miller and husband Erich. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Sean, Drew, Keira, Mason, Weston, Violet, Max, Norah, and Miles, and many nieces and nephews.

Grace’s family is grateful for the extraordinary care provided by Oak Leaf Manor North and Asana Hospice. Memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the American Cancer Society or Asana Hospice in Harrisburg, PA.

A graveside service is planned at Parklawn Cemetery in Rockville, MD on Monday, November 19^th at noon.

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