Grace Borelli Brusseau passed away peacefully at home after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer. Grace was born in Oakland, California to Elizabeth Saccos Borelli and Michael John Borelli. She married her beloved husband of sixty-one and a half years, Leonard Brusseau in 1962, and together they raised their three children Elizabeth, John (Julianna Burke), and Michele (Matthew Blaine). Grace is also survived by her precious grandchildren Nicholas and Mary Tarantino, Henry and Matthew Brusseau, and Theodore Blaine, a nephew, many cousins, and dear friends of whom she considered family. Grace was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Anne “Tessie” Pappas, her niece, and many extended Greek and Italian family members.
Grace was a devoted wife and mother, and a loyal friend. She adored her grandchildren, going out to dinner with friends, and entertaining in her home. She was an excellent cook and an avid reader. She had a mischievous sense of humor. To know Grace, was to love her. She was gracious, generous, beautiful, and kind. She was the heart and soul of her family and they will miss her every day.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Jerome Catholic Church of El Cerrito on Thursday, June 27 at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will be private the following day at St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made in Grace’s memory to: Oakland Children’s Hospital Branches (Acorn Branch), 5700 M.L.K. Jr. Way, Oakland, CA 94609, https://www.childrenshospitalbranches.org/donate.
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