Rita “Sharrie” (Smith) Grady, 74, of Westborough, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at her home of cancer on 18 July 2016, surrounded by her loving family and her faithful companion, Frosty. Sharrie was a lifelong Westborough resident and a member of the East Falmouth summer community.
Sharrie was first and foremost all about family. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Robert Grady, a Worcester native; their children Rob Grady of Manchester, Connecticut; Tim Grady and wife Tina of Hopkinton, Massachusetts; Mark Grady and wife Hui-Ting of Marlboro, Massachusetts; Meg O’Hara and husband Tim of Milton, Massachusetts; grandchildren Eamon, Aislinn, Cian, Shaelan, Mikayla, Liam, Emma, Will, and Josephine; siblings Paul Smith of New Hampshire; John Smith and wife Noreen of Charlton, Massachusetts; sister-in-law Kathy Smith of Paxton; sisters Jean Smith and husband Dennis Kennedy (deceased) of Newton, Massachusetts, Mary Cullen and husband Brien, and Marguerite Kerr and husband Tom, all of Westborough. Her brother, Tom Smith of Paxton, predeceased her.
In addition to a large extended family of nieces and nephews, cousins, and in-laws, she leaves her aunts Patricia Perron and Geraldine Duffy, both of Westborough, as well as many loving friends, especially Michele Gara of Vernon, Connecticut.
Sharrie lived a life of service. After graduating St. Mary’s High School in Milford and Anna Maria College, she began her career teaching on a reservation in Pueblo, Colorado, with the Extension Lay Volunteers of Chicago. She continued her passion for education by obtaining a master’s degree in reading from Worcester State College and teaching for many years in the Westboro School System. She continued to tutor into her retirement at Worcester Public Schools and the Worcester Senior Center RSVP Program. She was a committed parishioner at St. Luke’s Church, and especially enjoyed knitting prayer shawls and the activities of the Forever Young Group. Additionally, she taught Faith Formation at St. Luke’s SPRED Program, andwas an active contributor to the parish of St. Anthony’s of East Falmouth.
Service on the seas was also a love of Sharrie’s. In addition to her recreational boating and membership with the Duxbury Cruising Club, Sharrie was a dedicated member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadrons. Sharrie contributed many hours with her husband, Bob Grady, at Nobscot Sail & Power Squadron events including the annual holiday party, member picnic and the USPS booth at the New England Boat Show.
We will dearly miss Sharrie’s ceaseless energy and determination, her directness, her humor, and most of all her endless love and care. All of these traits have left an indelible imprint on her loved ones, especially her nine grandchildren with whom she shared a deep love.
