Grace Carroll Daly
May 6, 1901 - June 26, 1993"Always leave a place better than you find it" was her way of life.
Grace Carroll Daly, one of eleven children, was born to Rose Fannie Morgan and James R. Daly on May 6,1901 in New Orleans. Her family was large and close knit; she delighted in telling their stories. She attended elementary and high school at St. Joseph's, taught by the Daughters of Charity, who greatly influenced her formative years.
On March 25,1926, Grace entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters and was professed on May 27,1928, taking the name of Sister Mary Grace. Her life as a young religious was devoted to teaching little children and serving as principal and superior in several parishes. She taught from 1928 until 1978 when she accompanied Sr. Mary Michaeline to Baton Rouge and remained her faithful companion to the end.
Sister Mary Grace felt a great deal of pride in realizing that she contributed to the formation of her students, both academically and spiritually as evidenced in their varied, successful careers: educators, priests, public servants and devoted homemakers. She maintained a close friendship with many of them until her death.
During her years of retirement her life was dedicated to prayer. She enjoyed keeping up with current events, reading, flower arranging and especially her dog, Sandy. Sister Mary Grace always had a deep, personal devotion to our Blessed Mother. During the last years of her life, she constantly lived with Our Lady, asking her intercession in bearing her physical crosses and in sustaining her in the twilight of her life.
Through God's many graces, the support of family and friends, spiritual and personal perseverance, Sister Mary Grace dedicated her life to the service of God through education and the love of children. Her motto, chosen at her profession, and in scribed in her ring, "Thy will be done," was fulfilled throughout her religious life.
She was in her sixty-fifth year of religious profession and, for many, has left an everlasting mark on our lives through her love, example and dedication in God's service. Throughout her 92 years, she touched the lives of family and friends by her love, prayers, and definitely... her wit! With sincere hearts, deep appreciation and abundant love, we commend Sister Mary Grace to her eternal reward.
--by Sr. Mary Michaeline Green, O.P.
Sister Dorothy adds: Sisters, priests, family, former students, and many lay friends joined Miss Lilah Daly in bidding farewell to Sister Mary Grace in the motherhouse chapel. At the vespers service memories were shared of mops, buckets, paints and brushes, wax and polishing, blue aprons, building a grotto at St. Peter's in Reserve (LA), planting wisteria vines and sycamore trees. "Always leave a place better than you find it" was her way of life. A nephew recalled her asking to see New York by night in 1949 before embarking for Europe on the Queen Elizabeth. She loved and created beauty-- and fun!
