OBITUARY: Grace R. (Dame) Santo, 95

Below is an obituary from Nichols Funeral Home:

WILMINGTON, MA — Grace R. Santo (Dame), of Wilmington, passed away peacefully at home on September 28, 2024.

Grace was born in Montague City, MA; she was the daughter of the late Forrest Dame and Doris (Belanger) Dame.

Grace moved to Wilmington as a baby; she was a true “Wilmington Townie” who was educated in the Wilmington School System and where she made many life-long friends. Grace went on to attend U Mass Lowell, which was formerly known as Lowell Technology School when she attended, and she earned her certification as a comptroller.

Family was Grace’s priority; in her early years, Grace worked as a professional seamstress for a Ladies Sportswear Company and made “Ginny” Dolls so she could be home to raise her children. Grace was also a traffic supervisor and a court matron for ten years for the Town of Wilmington. After her family was grown, Grace went to work as a switch board operator for Thoratec, she also worked at Astra Zeneca, Inc., and was an administrator for the Kennecott Copper Company prior to retiring.

Grace had many friends and hobbies. She enjoyed dancing with her late husband Frank at the Elks in Tewksbury, the couple also enjoyed snowmobiling, jet skiing, boating, and entertaining family and friends at their home on Lake Winnipesaukee in Laconia, New Hampshire.

Grace was the beloved wife of the late Frank Santo, who passed away in 2010. She was the devoted mother of her daughter Louise Cain and her husband Edward of North Andover, MA, and her son Stephen Henderson and his wife Mary Ann of Norwood, MA. She was the cherished Nana of Laurie Westcott and her husband Bill, Frank Cain and his wife Rebecca, Allyson Costello and Lindsay Bishop, Great-Grandmother of Ashley Fichera and her partner David Gardner, Caitlin Fichera and her partner Parker Gammon, Frank Cain, Samantha Cain, Vivienne Costello, Lyla Bishop-Paquin, Camille Costello, and Great-Great-Grandmother of Maverick Gardner, and arriving soon Lyla Gardner and Paisley Gammon.

Family and friends will gather for Visiting Hours at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave. (Rte. 62), Wilmington, MA, on Tuesday, October 1st from 4:00-7:00 p.m. All are welcomed to gather at the Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 2nd at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Thomas Church, 126 Middlesex Ave., Wilmington, MA, at 11:30 a.m. Interment will take place in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Grace’s memory may be made to Perkins School for the Blind, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472.

To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website at www.nicholsfuneralhome.com.