Grace M. Sokolowski

Grace M. Sokolowski, of Coventry, CT departed on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 after a year-long, courageous struggle with cancer. She was born on February 23, 1959 in Mansfield, CT to Marge (Paull) and Joseph Sokolowski. Grace was a keen observer of life, children and nature. Grace had the gift of seeing the beauty and connectedness of every encounter while validating and empowering all she touched. This was expressed in her art, which included photography, weaving, painting, poetry, journaling, printmaking, gardening,?and puppetry.?Grace was a 1977 graduate of E.O. Smith High School and earned certification in Montessori Method of Education.?Grace was a gifted teacher of 3-6 year olds over the span of four decades, teaching in Connecticut and California.?For 23 of those years, she was the beloved teacher of hundreds of children at the Oak Grove Montessori School in Mansfield. Grace generously shared her knowledge and passion for the natural world with her cherished students, many of whom are advocates for the environment and its plants and animals to this day. She is predeceased by her mother, Marge (Paull) Sokolowski. Grace is survived by her devoted father Joseph Sokolowski, spouse and treasured soulmate, Cecile Larsen, and brother David Sokolowski of San Francisco, California.?She will also be dearly missed by many aunts, uncles, cousins, Cecile?s family, and many dear friends.?A special thanks to Dr. Timothy Hong, Dr. Mary Berry, the Hospice Team of Hartford Healthcare, and nurses, Melissa and Cathy, from the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St., Willimantic, CT 06226.?Interment will follow at St. Philips Cemetery in Ashford.?In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Grace?s name may be made to: Our Companions Animal Rescue Ashford Sanctuary, 46 Floeting Road, Ashford, CT 06278 and Blue Star Equiculture, 3090 Palmer St, Palmer, MA 01069.Charitable donations may be made to:Our Companions Animal RescueP.O. Box 956, Manchester CT 06045Tel: 1-860-242-9999Web: http://www.ourcompanions.org/donate/index.htmBlue Star EquicultureP.O. Box 7, Bondsville MA 01009Tel: 1-413-289-9787Email: info@equiculture.orgWeb : http://www.equiculture.org/donate-as-a-gift.aspx