LITTLETON, N.H. — Grace R. Rella, 98, passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, Oct. 18, 2011, at the Lafayette Nursing Center in Franconia, N.H.

She was born on Aug. 4, 1913, in New York City, a daughter of the late Santo and Maria (Vecchio) Pavone. She was raised in upstate New York on the family farm, and married Vito Rella in 1940.

In addition to raising their family in Brooklyn and on Long Island, Grace was a talented seamstress and worked in the garment district of New York for many years. She also owned her own dry-cleaning business at one time. She and her husband moved to the north country of New Hampshire in 2001.

She enjoyed knitting, quilting and crocheting, and she was known for her good cooking. She was a very self-sufficient lady who enjoyed her life at home taking care of her family. While maintaining her Catholic faith, she also subscribed to the tenets of the Christian Science church and firmly believed that the mind was a very powerful agent of healing.

Grace lived in Denmark with her granddaughter for several years.

Mrs. Rella is survived by her three sons, Vito Rella of Colebrook, N.H., Gerald Rella of Palm Coast, Fla. and Joseph Rella of Farmingdale, N.Y.; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Vito Rella, 2003; and a brother, Samuel Pavone.

Calling hours were on Friday, Oct. 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. A committal service and interment was held on Monday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. at the Pinelawn Memorial Park & Gardens in Farmingdale, Long Island, N.Y.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mrs. Rella may be made to The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Office of the Treasurer, Philanthropy Team, P05-10, 210 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115.
Condolences may be offered to the family online by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, N.H.