Grace 'Grayce' Pitera

Grayce (nee Lucca) Pitera, age 70 of Hammonton, passed away Wednesday April 29, 2009. Born in Hammonton, she was a resident her entire life. During her children's youth years Grayce assisted with Cub Scouts as a Den Mother. She volunteered at St. Joseph Church and participated in the Hammonton Rescue Squad Bowl-A-Thon. She also donated her time and furniture for the Hammonton High School plays. In 1978 she started The Cornucopian on Vine St. and greatly upgraded the building; moved to Pleasant Street and refurbished the Imhoff house. As part of her contribution to opening a business, Grayce held numerous free events to benefit the community of Hammonton and to bring out-of-town shoppers to Hammonton. She sponsored The Christmas Boar's Head Ceremony: Everyone in town was invited to celebrate an old world tradition and celebrate with complementary food and drink at San Rocco's. Grayce sponsored Huck Finn Day: She invited the children of town to participate in a day of games for ribbons - no one went home without a ribbon. Event was written up several times, one of which we remember was in 1991 and Fright Night a Halloween experience where she involved the entire neighborhood and invited the town for a fun-filled Halloween night. She hosted a Historic Barn tour and honored the NJ State Police.
She hosted an antique road show-type event with Ray Mansfield appraising antiques for the townspeople. She hosted several local author book signings, including, but not limited to, Kathleen DeMarco and Dr. Andrew Jannett. She was an original member of Main Street Hammonton. She wrote a heartfelt column for the Gazette since 1997. She remembered events and people as if they were yesterday. She has touched so many Hammontonians with her column. In fact, she has received mail from as far away as Italy from people touched by the memories she invokes. She has been a designer for the Lourdes Show House for several years and over the years has been written about by various magazines such as Entrepreneur and NJ Woman.
She wrote an article for the Farleigh Dickenson University Alumni Magazine. She was the first female to be invited into the Sons of Italy Club. The members voted her to be their Public Relations Representative. She has written and promoted several events, including the hosting of the Saxula Brass Italian Band to Hammonton. She also helped organize a fundraiser for the Band's second visit to Hammonton.
She worked public relations for the Lady of Mt. Carmel Society.
She was a member of Hammonton Historical Society,as part of her role with the Historical Society, she co-curated and co-organized with Kristen Colasurdo a Designer Show House which was a fundraising event to benefit the Historical Society. She was also member Historical Perservation Commission.
In 2007 Grayce Pitera was honored by the Lion's Club as Citizen of Year for her many contributions to to the Town of Hammonton.
As a loving gift back to her town in 2008, Grayce co-authored Hammonton Postcard Historical Series with Kristen Colasurdo.
Grayce is predeceased by her husband Daniel C. Pitera, DDS. Surviving are her son Dan and his wife Allegra Pitera of Detroit, MI. and her daughter Merrie Jo Pitera of Overland Park,KS. One sister Josephine Ahearn and her friend Harry Coblentz. Loving grandmother of Anneka Pitera. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Saturday 12:30-2:30pm with services at 2:30pm at the Marinella Funeral Home 102 N. Third St. Hammonton. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Hammonton. The family requests donations to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society PO Box 182 Mt. Carmel Lane Hammonton,NJ 08037, Preserving Italian Heritage Foundation c/o Jack Gillespie 100 Lakeshore Drive Hammonton, NJ 08037, or Historical Society of Hammonton 333 Vine St. Hammonton, NJ 08037. ( www.marinellafuneralhome.com) color=#000000>

Funeral Service

Saturday, May 2, 2009
Marinella Funeral Home, Inc. 102 N. Third Street Hammonton, New Jersey, United States 08037

Interment at: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery

Saturday, May 2, 2009
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery 124 S. Chew Road Hammonton, New Jersey, United States 08037