Online Obituaries

Grace I. (Faas) Silvestri, 95, of Ludlow, passed away peacefully with her husband and three daughters by her side on Friday, December 10, 2021 at Heritage Hall in Agawam.  She was born on May 28, 1926 in Springfield and was raised by Pauline and Frank Zendek in West Springfield.  Grace’s proudest achievement was her family whom she loved greatly.  An entrepreneur at an early age, Grace opened her own beauty salon at age 18.  As her girls were growing up, she spent many years volunteering for the Pioneer Valley Girl Scouts (now called Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts), where she received the highest honor of the Thanks Badge “for outstanding service that benefits the entire council or the Girl Scout Movement.”  Grace also had a long career with Glemby International, based in NYC, where she rose to a divisional Vice President position managing beauty salons in department stores across the Northeast. Her creative style and unbounded energy came through to everyone and everything she touched, but it was her deeply caring and giving nature that made everyone around her feel special.  In her retirement years, Grace and Sal took many train and bus trips and her handmade afghans and homemade cookies (which were a staple at all family events) were her favorite things to give to people she met. She left a legacy of love that her family will forever treasure.

She is predeceased by her beloved granddaughter, Laurie Richards, her mother and father, and her loving sister Rosalie DeGray. Grace is survived by her husband of nearly seventy-four years, Salvatore L. Silvestri; three daughters, Paula Richards of Longmeadow, Louise Corcoran and her husband, Lawrence of Palmer, and Rosemary Gaidos and her husband, Scott of Ellington, CT; seven grandchildren, Carol Forward, Lynn Lemieux, Kelly Corcoran, Michelle Noonan, Timothy Gurney, Ryan Gaidos, and Kevin Gaidos, nine great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews..

Calling hours will be on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 from 10 to 11:30 am at the Cierpial Memorial Funeral Home on 69 East St. in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts.  There will be a funeral home service at 11:30 am. Burial will be in St. Michael’s Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 516 Carew St. Springfield, MA 01104.