West Newbury — Grace Pearl Griffin, who just turned 85 on Feb. 28, 2013, died Tuesday evening, March 4, 2013 at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House, having been recently diagnosed with cancer.
Born in Haverhill, Feb. 28, 1928, she was one of three children of the late Russell H. and Doris L. (Rumford) Griffin and was a graduate of West Newbury High School, Class of 1945.
She worked for First National grocery stores as well as CBS Hytron in Newburyport. Then, for many years, Pearl worked in the accounting department of John Hancock Life Insurance Company in Boston.
A 70-year member of Laurel Grange No. 161 of West Newbury, she was also a member of Heritage Pomona Grange No. 2 and Massachusetts State Grange, and member and present Worthy Matron of Friendship Chapter No 58, Order of Eastern Star of Newburyport.
Before moving to the Boston area, Pearl was a member of the West Newbury Congregational Church where she taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir and was a member of the Youth Group.
While living in the Boston area, she was an active member of the Brighton Evangelical Congregational Church, having served on the Board of Deacons, numerous ministries and missions and taught Vacation Bible School. Additionally, Pearl was a “Big Sister,” reading to the blind at the Perkins Institute.
After returning to West Newbury in October 2004, she once again became active with the West Newbury Congregational Church.
In addition to her beloved sister and roommate, Bernice C. Griffin of West Newbury, she is survived by her dear brother, Erwin R. Griffin and wife Priscilla Jean of Atkinson, N.H.; along with seven nieces and four nephews, Russell Griffin and wife Sandra of Rochester, N.H.; Doris Buckley and husband Todd of Plaistow, N.H.; Jennifer Griffin of Pittsford, Vt.; Michelle Griffin of Manchester, N.H.; Angela McCarthy of Plaistow, N.H.; Todd Griffin and wife Grace of St. Petersburg, Fla.; Christine Griffin of Rochester, N.H.; Joseph Griffin and wife Victoria of Paducah, Ky., and Erica, Robert and Renee Griffin all of Atkinson, N.H.; along with 21 grandnieces and grandnephews.
Pearl will be remembered as a woman of great faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christ’s love shined in all of the ways she served others. Pearl loved her church, loved her family and loved her friends.
ARRANGEMENTS: Visiting hours are Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Elliott, Woodworth & Rogers Family Funeral Home, 35 Green Street, Newburyport. Friendship Chapter will conduct services at the funeral home at 3:30 p.m. and Laurel Grange will conduct their services at 3:45 p.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend her funeral service on Saturday at 10:30 A.M. at the West Newbury Congregational Church, 308 Main Street, West Newbury. Springtime burial will be in the Walnut Hill Cemetery, West Newbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to WNCC Missions, P.O.Box 176, West Newbury, MA 01985.
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