Grace M. Jacobs

Grace (Marshall) Jacobs of Dedham (formerly of Westwood) peacefully passed away on March 27, with her daughters by her side. As a woman of great faith, we’re confident she skyrocketed to heaven! She was the loving wife of the late Walter L. Jacobs for 52 wonderful years at the time of his death in 2002.

Grace’s incredible life spanned over many years, and she had relatives with impressive longevity. Her father, John Marshall of Boston, was born when Abraham Lincoln was president…..and lived into his 90’s! Grace recalled as a child, roller-skating in the street in front of her West Roxbury home, while holding on to the back of a horse-drawn “ice wagon” as it delivered ice blocks to those with an early version of refrigerators, the ice box! Her roller-skating continued into her teenage years, and she won a silver trophy as Miss Roll-Land in 1941 from Roll-Land in Norwood. For over 40 years after winning, she was often invited back to Roll-Land to award the annual Miss Roll-Land prize to future generations’ skaters.

Grace had a talent for working with numbers, and enjoyed math. She worked in the accounting department of the former Norfolk County Trust/Baybank/Bank of America for 26 years. She was a faithful employee and made many lifelong friends there. Grace’s love of numbers also fueled a passion for playing Bingo well into her 90s!

For over thirty years Grace volunteered at Norwood Hospital’s “Small Miracles” Maternity ward, and became known as the Baby Hat Lady. With much love, she knitted hats for the newborns. Many lucky babies went home wearing a hat from Grace, the “hat lady”! She also made them for infants of family and friends. Her beautifully knitted hats have warmed newborns’ heads in Michigan, California, Tennessee, Florida, Alaska and as far away as Sweden and Australia! Grace’s family was the center of her life. She enjoyed family gatherings and loved to bake for us all. Grace spoiled her friends and family with Irish bread, congo bars, cookies, and her famous New Bedford Fudge cake!

A woman of great faith, Grace was a communicant of St. Denis church. She was an active member of the “Altar Society”, and counted money for weekly donations (delighting the priest with her weekly donation of cookies as she walked in the rectory door!). She was a member of the St. Denis PEP group, and loved going on bus trips with her PEP friends to Boston Symphony’s outdoor concerts and afternoons at the Foxwoods Casino.

Grace is the loving mother of Kathleen Davidson and husband Robert of Mansfield, Ann Mooney and husband Thomas of Ann Arbor Michigan and Donna Folsom and husband Robert of Westwood. She will always be the cherished Mammy to her grandchildren Jeremy Davidson, Sarah Folcrum, Missy Ciulla, Danny Mooney, Brian Folsom, Scott Mooney and Julia Raccuglia. She adapted well to the technological changes in society, and would “IM” (“instant message”) her grandchildren as CyberMammy when they were in college. Grace was also the great-grandmother to “Mammy’s great eight”: Nathan, Dylan, Kyle, Ben, Austin, Simon, Jack and Lexi. Grace was the sister of the late Peggy Gould, and Jack, Jeff, and Fred Marshall. She was the beloved Auntie Grace to many nieces and nephews.

During their retirement, Grace and Walter enjoyed going on cruises and traveling. Their favorite vacation spot was the Lighthouse Inn in West Dennis on Cape Cod. Many family vacations and celebrations took place at the Lighthouse Inn, and will continue to take place there with wonderful memories of Amazing Grace!

Our deep gratitude goes out to the staff and residents of the Linden of Dedham for their love and kindness to Grace. Interment will be private. To view the livestream of her graveside service please log on to www.norwoodmediagroup.com/grace between 9:50 and 10 am on Wednesday, April 1st, 2020. In the event that livestreaming is not possible due to a poor cellular signal a recorded version of the service will be posted at the same site within 24 hours.  A Memorial Mass will be held Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 9:30 am at St. Denis Church, 157 Washington Street (Rt 1A), Islington. Donations in her memory may be made to the Jimmy Fund, c/o Dana Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.  “God Love You! Amen.”