Mary Anne Grace

Mary Anne (Cooper) Grace, daughter of the late Charles and Rose Cooper, the cherished matriarch of the Grace family and extended Cooper clan, passed away March 15, 2024 at the age of 71. Born in 1952 in Staten Island, New York, Mary Anne was the second child of five siblings, including her sisters Rori, Lisa, and Jeannette, and her brother Charlie.

During her childhood, Mary Anne's family moved to Oyster Bay, New York, where they resided on what is now the Planting Fields Arboretum. It was there, as young neighbors, she met her soulmate and future husband, Michael Grace. The couple's love story spanned an incredible 54 years of marriage, during which they raised four children: Tara, Kelly, Daniel, and Matthew. Together, Mary Anne and Michael made their home in Smithtown, New York, where they created a loving environment for their children to grow and thrive. Mary Anne served as manager of Dr. Stephen Sokoloff’s oral surgery practice where she guided, nurtured, and inspired the staff.

Mary Anne was a spunky, opinionated, and intelligent woman who served as the family's guiding light. She not only acted as a parent to her own children, but also took on a maternal role for her younger siblings. Her nurturing nature earned her the affectionate nickname "Aunt Fuzzy" among her many nieces and nephews. She was more of a grandparent to all of them. She delighted in hosting holidays for the family where the house was filled with people, joy, and delicious Italian food.  Throughout her life, Mary Anne's love and devotion to her family were unwavering.

She found immense joy in watching her family grow, and her legacy lives on through her twelve grandchildren, and her many devoted nieces and nephews.  Mary Anne will be deeply missed by her loving husband, Michael; her children, Tara (Ted), Kelly (Jonathan), Daniel (Christina), and Matthew (Mary Beth); her grandchildren, Nicole, Kyle, Samuel, Grace, Jake, Tyler, Jack, Madden, Tim, Delaney, Ryan, and Maggie; her siblings Lisa (Stephen), Jeannette (Robert), Charlie and the late Rori (Will).

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in memory of Mary Anne to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at the link below.