Grace A. Gustafson

Grace A. Gustafson, 109, one of the oldest residents of New York State, died peacefully on Monday, December 9, 2024 at the Norwich Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

Born on September 7, 1915, in South New Berlin, NY, Grace was a daughter of Manfred and Annie (Olson) Benson. She was one of their seven children and lived on a farm in New Berlin, NY until she was 15 when she moved to Norwich and became a care giver for the Bengert family, former Norwich Pharmacal Company president. Her duties included cooking, caring for the children, and serving at the parties hosted by the family. Grace continued throughout her adult life to be a host for countless parties in Norwich. She was an excellent cook.

Grace’s parents immigrated from Sweden and over the years she has kept in touch with her family from Sweden. Grace loved traveling and took several vacations including traveling to Nevada, Hawaii, Sweden, and Micronesia. She was a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 189 since 1987 and in her younger days could often be found playing cards at the Legion. 

Grace married Frank Gustafson at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Norwich in 1941. Frank predeceased Grace on April 3, 1985. Together they would have three children, Karl, Richard, and Connie. She remained a member of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church throughout her life. 

Grace lived in her own home by herself until the age of 106, when she became a resident at the Norwich Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

Grace is survived by her daughters-in-law, Patricia Gustafson, of North Syracuse, NY and Judy Bible, of Boulder City, NV; grandchildren, Jennifer (Joel) Reyes, Jamie Smale, Richard (Kim) Gustafson, Kristina Gustafson, and Elizabeth Gustafson; great-grandchildren, Gus, Ryker, Matthew, Arabella, Robert, and Teagan; great-great-grandchildren, Kira, Justin, and Killian; and 17 nieces and nephews. Grace was blessed with her two nieces in Norwich visiting her daily, Linda (Ray) Gregory and Sandy Hall. She was predeceased by all of her children and all of her siblings; sons, Karl Gustafson in 1969 and Richard Gustafson in 2007; daughter, Connie McGee in 2017; grandson, John David McGee; grandson-in-law, Don Smale; and her siblings, Gladys (Lewis) Austin, Fred (Olga) Benson, Alf (Bea) Benson, Ann Marie (Hubert) Hume, Bruno (Lenora) Benson, and Martha (Charlie) Groff. 

A special thanks is given to all who cared for Grace over the years and kept in touch with her, including those who loved and cared for her at Norwich Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

A funeral service for Grace will be held on in the spring of 2025, with burial to follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery. 

Memorial contributions in memory of Grace may be made to the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 37 West Main Street, Norwich, NY 13815 or the American Legion Auxiliary, 29 Sheldon Street, Norwich, NY 13815.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted with John Antonowicz of the Wilson Funeral Home.