Baptized into the hope of Christ’s Resurrection, Mary Grasso Lenz, 82, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2018, at her home in Lake Ridge, Virginia. Married 51 years to her sweetheart, Frederick W. “Bill” Lenz, who passed in 2013, Mary was a lifelong resident of Milford until 2017, when illness brought her closer to her son and his family in Virginia. She is survived by her son, Erik, daughter in law, Laura, and granddaughter, Rosie, as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was born on October 14, 1935, to the late Angelo and Vincenza (Locicero) Grasso, Sicilian immigrants who made a home in Milford for themselves and their family. She is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Rosario and Salvatore Grasso, and sister, Carmela Grasso Wirtanen.

Mary graduated from Milford High School in 1953 and Bryant College. She began her career as a secretary at Sanders Associates in Nashua and was active in the Business and Professional Women’s Club. During her son Erik’s school years, she worked part-time as a court reporter and contributed articles to the Milford Cabinet and Nashua Telegraph. She was later known to many in the community as a beloved business teacher at Milford High School, Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative High School, and Nashua Vocational-Technical College for the remainder of her career.

As an active and lifelong parishioner at St. Patrick’s Church in Milford, the family church where she received all of her sacraments and was married, Mary volunteered at Share and helped with the Lunch Bunch. She and Bill also enjoyed volunteering as Granite State Ambassadors, welcoming travelers at Manchester Airport and promoting the state’s many restaurants and attractions.

Mary possessed many creative talents and was an accomplished artist, with many beautiful paintings, crafts, and furniture to her credit. She offered her dried flower arrangements and crafts at Wheat ‘n Weeds, a shop she ran in Milford with her dear friends Barbara Bianchi and Blanche Sargent for several years.

Travel was a lifelong love, whether visiting friends in Switzerland or cousins in her beloved Sicily, or enjoying the beauty of her home state. She, Bill, and Erik traveled extensively in Europe and throughout the United States. She loved vacationing in Meredith at the family cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee and never passed up an opportunity to go browsing in the many area gift shops, followed of course by the ice cream buffet at the Kellerhaus. She loved the ocean, whether visiting North Beach for a barbecue or walking the Marginal Way in Ogunquit with Bill, followed by steamers and lobster at Barnacle Billy’s. Mary was always fiercely proud of and happy to return to her beautiful New Hampshire hometown of Milford.

She loved and was very proud of all of her nieces and nephews and reveled in their successes over the years in school, careers, and family life.

Mary’s family wishes to thank all of those who helped care for her over the past few years. You have become like family to us and we will be forever grateful to you.

Visiting hours will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 26 at Smith and Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 27 at 10 a.m., at St. Patrick’s Church, 34 Amherst Street, Milford, NH, followed by burial at Riverside Cemetery alongside her husband, Bill and other family members.

Donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Granite State Ambassadors, Inc., One Airport Road, Suite 198, Manchester, 03103, or to Share Outreach Inc., 1 Columbus Avenue, Milford, 03055.

Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, Milford. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com.