Obituary of Grace C. Conti

Grace Conti, 91, of 912 E 2nd St, Jamestown, died peacefully Sunday Nov. 6, 2011, at WCA Hospital. She was born July 15, 1920, in Cleveland, OH. In 1923, her parents, Antonino and Sebastiana Calanni moved the family back to Tortorici, Sicily. Grace returned to the US in 1947 and was joined six months later by her husband Rosario, whom she married in 1940, and her two children, Maria and Sebastiano. She would give birth to her third child, Virginia, soon thereafter. Grace had been employed at the former National Worsted Mills, and at Cala's Restaurant. She was active in the Altar & Rosary Society at St. John's Church. In years past, at its annual St Joseph's Table, her signature homemade bread was greatly anticipated. Cooking for family gave her immense pleasure. The meals she prepared, with that special ingredient no one could duplicate--her love--were the highlights of visits by children and grandchildren. Her meat sauce recipe won First Prize at a California regional spaghetti sauce cook-off contest, besting competition from professional chefs! Grace was a woman of strong Roman Catholic faith. She welcomed guests into her home with warmth, and always found the good in people. She particularly loved visits from grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is survived by three children: Mary Conti (Robert) Spaulding, Hudson, FL; Dr. Sebastian (Elizabeth) Conti, Sacramento, CA; and Virginia Conti, Jamestown; a brother Antonio (Maria) Calanni, Milan, Italy; two sisters, Sebastiana (Peter) Indriolo and Mariantonia (Giuseppe) Armeli both of Jamestown; five grandchildren: John (Jacqueline) Spaulding, Cincinnati, OH; Jan (Mark) Higa, Boulder CO; Anthony (Linda) Spaulding, Coventry, CT and MacClean, Virginia; Melanie Conti (Michael) McCauley, Moraga, CA; Kelley Spaulding (John) Gullo, Largo, FL; Michael Allette, Jamestown; and Dominick Conti, Sun Valley, ID; five great grandchildren Dominic Gullo, Grace McCauley, Catherine McCauley, Addisyn Gullo and Alison McCauley. Beside her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rosario who died October 27, 1987; a sister Concetta Conti of Jamestown and a brother, Giussepe Calanni, Sydney, Australia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am Thursday Nov 10, 2011, in Holy Apostles Parish, St. John Catholic Church. The Rev. Dennis W. Mende will be celebrant. Family and friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in the Lind Funeral Home, where a Christian Wake Service will be held at 1:45 p.m. Memorials may be made to Holy Apostles Parish, St. John Catholic Church, 508 Cherry Street, Jamestown, NY 14701.