Grace Eleanor “Grandma Grace” Poletti passed away peacefully on Jan. 21, 2022.
Grace was born on May 24, 1925 to Donald and Ester Silacci of Cayucos. She was one of nine children raised on the Villa Creek Ranch and attended Someo School and graduated from Coast Union High School.
In 1949, Grace married William Poletti and for the next 40 years they operated a dairy ranch on the Cayucos coast before retiring to Morro Bay.
Grace kept herself busy and always had a job or two. She worked at Hearst Castle, M.B. Grocery and Rexall Drug. She served as housekeeper for St. Timothy’s Church for 28 years. Grace’s association with the church spanned all three of the priests in St. Timothy’s history. And most recently was the demo lady at Albertson’s
No matter how busy Grace was she always found time to volunteer. She served as Altar Society President, was active in Alpha, volunteered for the Salvation Army and was active for over 30 years in local food and toy drives.
She was the “team mom” for the Morro Bay Police Department and the “Are you okay?” caller for the Fire Department. It is no surprise that Grace was named “Citizen of the Year” in 2004.
No matter how busy Grace was she always made time to decorate her house for every holiday inside and out. She took great pride in her home and always welcomed family, friends and neighbors who came to visit.
“Grandma Grace” as she was commonly known to many was happy to claim all that she knew as hers. She was quick to spoil and always had a one or two dollar bills to hand out
Grace is survived by her grandson Joey Pettit and wife Brenda, great grandchildren Tyler, Hunter, Tessa, Haley, Hanna, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Grace was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, William in 2001 and their only child Shirley Pettit in 1988 and granddaughter Jaimey Nelson in 2008.
A mass was celebrated for Grace on Feb. 4 at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church in Morro Bay, with the pews filled with people who knew and loved Grace. Among them police officers — past and present — and members of the Fire Department in dress uniforms.
Fr. Ed Holterhoff, recently retired from St. Timothy’s, presided and spoke candidly about his friend. Former MBPD Chief and SLO County Undersheriff Tim Olivas gave the eulogy.
In lieu of flowers please send a donation to your favorite charity or to Hospice of the Central Coast who was invaluable to her family in her final days.
