Grace Rossella DeValerio

Grace Rosella DeValerio (Mistretta). February 5, 1929 - May 17, 2026. Grace passed away peacefully at the age of 97. She was the beloved wife of the late Harry DeValerio and the adored sister of the late Mary (Francesco) Senia. She was a cherished aunt to Nena (Mark) Thomas and JoAnn Nouman (Ron), and a loving great-aunt of Marsia (Sean) Thomas Callaghan, Eli (Britt) Thomas, Grant (Amanda) Nouman, and Brandon (Ashley Poziemski) Nouman. She was a proud great-great-aunt of Rhea and Mason Callaghan, Isla and Miles Thomas, Gracelyn and Amelia Nouman, and Blake Nouman, Brodie Chunn and C.J. Guastella. Grace grew up in Detroit, attended Gabriel Richard Elementary School and graduated from Pershing High School in 1947. She was especially close to her mother and sister Mary having lost her father at the age of eleven. She was the youngest in her tightly knit Italian family and the first to attend college graduating with a bachelor's degree, and later a master's degree from Wayne State University in 1970. She spent her career as an educator at Wilkens Elementary School where she retired and is remembered fondly as a favorite kindergarten teacher who shared songs at the piano. Grace met Harry later in life and married on May 20, 1978. They led a happy life together in retirement vacationing often in the south during the winter and enjoying condo living in golf communities in St. Clair and Marysville, Michigan. Although Grace never had children of her own, she was especially treasured by her two nieces who considered her to be more like a mother having lost theirs in 1986. When Harry passed away in 2001, her nieces stood by her side and remained close. Grace found annual trips to Florida with her nieces to be a particular highlight. When Grace's vision began to fail her, she relocated to Clinton Township to be near family. She enjoyed senior living at Villa Bella where she happily resided for 13 years. Grace was an inspiration to her family and will always be remembered for her warmth, kindness and generosity. She will be dearly missed by family members and friends that knew and loved her dearly. A Memorial Gathering will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 until the time of the Memorial Mass at 12 noon at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church at 48115 Schoenherr Road in Shelby Township. Interment to take place at Resurrection Cemetery.