Grace Mc Elhinney Hall
March 7, 1936 — September 14, 2013
Grace Mc Elhinney Hall
Grace McElhinney Hall passed away on Saturday September 14, 2013. After suffering a stroke, two weeks earlier, Grace passed peacefully at home surrounded by her children, grandchildren and loving husband Vern.
Grace was born in Liverpool England on March 7, 1936 an historic day that was to lead up to World War II: that was the day the German Army moved troops into the Rhineland and violated the Treaty of Versailles which had ended World War I. All residents of Liverpool suffered under the bombings of the City from 1940 through 1941 and Grace’s family were no exception. The bombing experience, the air raid shelters and the aftermath of the war had a lasting effect on Grace, although she never lost her Liverpudlian sense of humor. She was proud of being from Liverpool although the City had not always experienced a good reputation but that changed when it became known as the birthplace of the Beatles. In 2008, the year Liverpool was named the European Capital of Cultural; Grace revisited the City accompanied by her family.
Being born near the sea and with her father a merchant marine, she always loved being near the coast; this, and a desire to share her history with her family, led to the purchase of a house in Ireland. For the prior 17 years Grace and Vern enjoyed spending the months of July and August at that home on Valentia Island, County Kerry. Those years were very special to Grace especially when her children and grandchildren were able to join her for long walks on the strand, trips to the pub and nights by a peat fire. She made many friends there...
Grace was the owner and operator of a successful and well respected antique store for approximately 35 years, applicably named, “Amazing Grace Antiques” located in Riverside California. Grace had a terrific sense of style and always she said she would have nothing in her store she would not welcome in her own home. Many people come to her store to sell an antique item and she always insisted on paying the correct price, even when the seller was asking a much lower price Grace would offer the proper higher price. Likewise if someone wanted more than the item was worth she would not hesitate to set them straight; her integrity was intact at all times. She had many followers both collectors and dealers who became friends; many were from across the country and regularly contacted her for advice and to partake in her wisdom, sense of humor and the beautiful antiques she chose for her store.
Grace was a gourmet cook and loved the holidays when the family would gather, laugh, and she had the opportunity to prepare wonderful meals. She was one of the founding members of a gourmet club that has lasted33 years. Grace was a wonderful mother, grandmother (Nana), mother-in-law, and wife. She is survived by her husband Vernon(Oceanside, California) of 41 years, five children, Carol O’Brien,(Riverside, California) Michael Belliveau,(Charleston, Oregon) Margaret Whitson (Johns Creek, Georgia), Jeffrey Hall (Carlsbad, California) and Jennifer DiCiolli (Oceanside, California). She is also survived by nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. She will be greatly missed.
There will be a memorial remembrance to be at All Saints Episcopal Church in Riverside, CA on Friday November 29, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.
“I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says; “There, she is gone!”
“Gone where?”
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!”
And that is dying.”
Henry Van Dyke
For all the friends and family of Grace you are invited and welcomed to add your comments and memories to this perpetual memorial.
Grace was born in Liverpool England on March 7, 1936 an historic day that was to lead up to World War II: that was the day the German Army moved troops into the Rhineland and violated the Treaty of Versailles which had ended World War I. All residents of Liverpool suffered under the bombings of the City from 1940 through 1941 and Grace’s family were no exception. The bombing experience, the air raid shelters and the aftermath of the war had a lasting effect on Grace, although she never lost her Liverpudlian sense of humor. She was proud of being from Liverpool although the City had not always experienced a good reputation but that changed when it became known as the birthplace of the Beatles. In 2008, the year Liverpool was named the European Capital of Cultural; Grace revisited the City accompanied by her family.
Being born near the sea and with her father a merchant marine, she always loved being near the coast; this, and a desire to share her history with her family, led to the purchase of a house in Ireland. For the prior 17 years Grace and Vern enjoyed spending the months of July and August at that home on Valentia Island, County Kerry. Those years were very special to Grace especially when her children and grandchildren were able to join her for long walks on the strand, trips to the pub and nights by a peat fire. She made many friends there...
Grace was the owner and operator of a successful and well respected antique store for approximately 35 years, applicably named, “Amazing Grace Antiques” located in Riverside California. Grace had a terrific sense of style and always she said she would have nothing in her store she would not welcome in her own home. Many people come to her store to sell an antique item and she always insisted on paying the correct price, even when the seller was asking a much lower price Grace would offer the proper higher price. Likewise if someone wanted more than the item was worth she would not hesitate to set them straight; her integrity was intact at all times. She had many followers both collectors and dealers who became friends; many were from across the country and regularly contacted her for advice and to partake in her wisdom, sense of humor and the beautiful antiques she chose for her store.
Grace was a gourmet cook and loved the holidays when the family would gather, laugh, and she had the opportunity to prepare wonderful meals. She was one of the founding members of a gourmet club that has lasted33 years. Grace was a wonderful mother, grandmother (Nana), mother-in-law, and wife. She is survived by her husband Vernon(Oceanside, California) of 41 years, five children, Carol O’Brien,(Riverside, California) Michael Belliveau,(Charleston, Oregon) Margaret Whitson (Johns Creek, Georgia), Jeffrey Hall (Carlsbad, California) and Jennifer DiCiolli (Oceanside, California). She is also survived by nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. She will be greatly missed.
There will be a memorial remembrance to be at All Saints Episcopal Church in Riverside, CA on Friday November 29, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.
“I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says; “There, she is gone!”
“Gone where?”
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!”
And that is dying.”
Henry Van Dyke
For all the friends and family of Grace you are invited and welcomed to add your comments and memories to this perpetual memorial.
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