Grace VanRensalier

Grace Turner Van Rensalier, affectionately known as "Mother Grace" was a daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great- great-grandmother, friend and role model who is loved and remember by many. Born in New Rochelle, New York; she later resided in Paterson, Nutley and Passaic New Jersey. Mother Grace married her husband John Van Rensalier Sr. who preceded her in death. She raised five children, John Jr., Charley, Lorraine, Allen and Ronald. She endured some difficult challenges and circumstances but always persevered and made her family proud. She "adopted" many children along the way, which she considered her own. Like any good mom, she was always there to share her motherly advice and to shower all of her children with love. Moving to Passaic in the early 1970's she quickly forged many friendships and relationships and became involved within the greater Passaic community through her work and civic engagements. Mother Grace along with her dearest friend and BINGO partner, the late Annie Lester, worked at the Turning Point Drug and Rehabilitation Center and served many of Passaic's most vulnerable residents through drug and alcohol counseling at the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Passaic. An assistant teacher at the Passaic Children's Day Nursery for many years she helped to tutor pre-school students there, who affectionately remembered her for many years after they graduated. For a few years Mother Grace became a member of the Passaic Republican Club and additionally served as Republican County Committee Person. During her later years and into her retirement, Mother Grace joined the Senior Resident Council group at the Passaic Housing Authority and served as Building Captain at the Harry Hecht Senior Apartments. Mother Grace was a proud member of the Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Passaic. She was blessed to have a loving and caring church family who always supported her, often visiting and praying with her at the Nursing Home. Affectionately referred to by many as the "Queen" of the Chestnut Hill Nursing Home, Mother Grace spread joy, kindness and hope to her fellow residents with words of encouragement or just a hello or a smile and perhaps, a not-to-subtle sass to the staff. Mother Grace was a proud and elegant woman who loved to dress to impress and loved to coordinate her outfits and her jewelry which she wore each Mother Grace has always been a very strong, graceful and resilient lady; a super women and a super mom. This very special lady fought hard for her family each and every day. She was the biggest fan of her children and grandchildren and supported us throughout our lives; challenging us to reach for the stars and being there for us when we would fall short. Mom, your children and grandchildren are so very proud of you. You've been a true survivor, someone that we will forever hold near and dear to our hearts. Someone who we will forever love and will yearn to see once again, in paradise. Your kindness and generosity will continue to provide us with a lifetime of memorable blessings. You will always be our Amazing "Mother Grace." Mother Grace is preceded in death by her parents the late John Turner and Lordena Jenkins Turner both of Paterson, NJ. A brother Wilbur Turner of Jamesburg, NJ. A sister Ruth Lucas of Henderson, NC and brother Peter R. Turner of Chicago, I. And a son John Van Rensalier Jr. She is survived by two daughters Charley of Rutherford, NJ and Lorraine of Miami, FL. two sons Allen and Ronald of Passaic, NJ. A grandson Lionel Manuel III of Rutherford, NJ and two granddaughters Kasey Wideman of Greensboro, NC and Alexandra Van Rensalier of Lodi, NJ four great-grandchildren and two great-great- grandchildren and a host of other family members and friends.

Grace VanRensalier

February 20, 1928 - September 7, 2022