Mary Grace Welch's Obituary
Mary “Grace” Welch (née Lombana), a resident of Clearwater, Florida for over 40 years, formerly of the Canal Zone and the Republic of Panama, died peacefully in her home surrounded by her children on November 28, 2024. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Jerry of 57 years to whom she was tirelessly and lovingly devoted, by two unborn children, Gracie and Alfred, her parents Leonor & Alfredo, brother Alfred, nephew Neil and son-in-law Mel.
Grace was the loving and dedicated mother of her children, Kathleen, Jerry & daughter-in-law Mary (née Babington), and Chris; grandchildren James C.S.C., Timothy, Emma and Anna; siblings Lou, Mary & brother-in-law Wylie, Joyce & brother-in-law Albino, 3 former sisters-in-law (Judy, Linda and Judy), 9 nieces & their spouses, 4 nephews & their spouses, 29 great-nieces and great-nephews & their spouses, one great-great niece, and many extended family members.
Grace’s mission of evangelization included spreading the fragrance of Christ Jesus to all she met and tangibly providing resources about Roman Catholicism, and the Christian faith, to those who were seeking God. She once said that she saw people were seeking as “sheep without a shepherd,” and she knew that the Good Shepherd was calling her to provide books and other resources to them. She exercised this ministry in the Canal Zone for about 21 years and continued spreading the Gospel at many Pinellas County parishes beginning in 1981. With the blessing of Fr. Jacob Monteleone (then Pastor of Light of Christ Parish), she was granted permission to open a Catholic Resource Center in the parish. With the help of her husband Jerry, her family, and so many dedicated and selfless parishioners of Light of Christ and generous friends of all denominations, the Resource Center, dedicated to the Good Shepherd was opened in November of 2001. The Resource Center was a source of great blessing to the Clearwater area for many years, long after she could no longer be at its helm.
“How lovely on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news.”
(Isaiah 52:7)
In lieu of flowers the family would ask that you consider a donation to one of the following:
Congregation of Holy Cross, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556—NOTE: make checks payable to “Congregation of Holy Cross”. In memo corner write “Grace Welch”; MUCEC [Mujeres Colonenses in Camino] of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Rebecca Burian, 8403 Colesville Rd. #400, Silver Spring, MD 20910—NOTE: make checks payable to “Sisters of Mercy” nothing more. In memo corner write: “for Srs.Barbara+Dina/Center Colon, Panama”. If you wish an IRS receipt include your return address; the Salesians 2 Lefevre Lane, P.O. Box 30, New Rochelle, NY 10802-0030; the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302; or, Suncoast Hospice Foundation/Empath Health, Address: 5771 Roosevelt Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33760.
Visitation will be Friday, December 13, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.at Moss Feaster Funeral Home-Dunedin, 1320 Main Street, Florida and the Funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, 2281 State Road 580, Clearwater, Florida.
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