Mrs. Grace McLaughlin

Herkimer, NY-Gracious, kind, and loving. Those three words epitomize Grace McLaughlin who passed away on October 7, 2017 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. Grace was born in 1924 in Queens, New York to Thomas and Mary O’Dell Bentley and was the youngest of five children. In 1946, she married Robert McLaughlin, to whom she was married for 71 years.  Grace was an unmatchable combination of optimism and pragmatism. She was unfailingly kind and saw the best in everyone. She was also incredibly patient. She was the type of person many of us aspired to be. She had a unique gift to recognize, foster and celebrate the talents and strengths of others and make people feel like they matter.  Her generous spirit made the world brighter. Grace cared deeply about her community and believed that we are all obligated to give back. She was active in many local service and civic organizations – her earliest days were as a girl scout leader and den mother. Grace also served on the Mid-York Library Board and the board of the Little Falls YMCA.  Grace was passionate about the transformative power of education. She founded and personally directed the Herkimer County Arts & Crafts Fair which has generated over a million dollars for the Herkimer County Community College Scholarship Fund.  Grace’s greatest passion was her family. Her husband Robert was the love of her life.  Grace is survived by Robert, their six children, and six grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Grace McLaughlin Scholarship Fund c/o Herkimer County Community College, 100 Reservoir Road, Herkimer, NY 13350. Daniel J. Enea has been entrusted with Mrs. McLaughlin's funeral arrangements, 315-508-5250. Personal condolences can be emailed to memoriesofgraceb@gmail.com or mailed to 5729 Greenville Road, Sykesville, MD 21784.