Obituary of Grace P. Dunkly

Grace P. Dunkly passed away at home on Wednesday, November 14, 2012. Grace was born November 6, 1921 in Lebanon, Virginia; the oldest of twelve children to the late Margaret and Dale Mitchell. She was a resident of Wappingers Falls in the 1960's and had resided in Vestal, New York and at St. Simeon's in Poughkeepsie. On April 23, 1942, she married Robert A. "Bob" Dunkly who predeceased her on January 4, 1991. They were both apartment managers at Oak Park in Wappingers Falls and later Westminster Gardens in Vestal for over thirty years. She was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Poughkeepsie and attended Zion Episcopal Church in Wappingers Falls. Grace is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Betsy and Michael Tripaldi of Wappingers Falls with whom she resided with for the last two years; her sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Nancy Dunkly of Bonita, California and Douglas and Nancy Dunkly of Elk Grove, California; her grandchildren, Shane Johnson and fiancée, Sandra, Lance Johnson, Robyn Vera and husband, Jesse, Nolan Dunkly, Jason Tripaldi and wife, Heather, and Chris Kerwin; her great-grandchildren, Luke, Micah, Dean and Melody Vera, and Victoria, Aiden, Sortia and Caellum Tripaldi. She is also survived by four sisters and three brothers in Virginia, Florida, and Rhode Island as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all with her smile and happy ways. "I thank God that I have lived to age 91." Grace was an anatomical gift donor to Albany Medical College. On Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 11 a.m. a Memorial Celebration Service will be held at Zion Episcopal Church, Satterlee Place, Wappingers Falls with Mother Magdalene and Pastor Ward officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Grace's name may be made to Zion Episcopal Church, 12 Satterlee Place, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. To send the family a personal condolence please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.