Grace Camellia Ciocca, passed away peacefully March 7, 2024 after living courageously with Alzheimer's for almost 15 years. Prior to her illness, Grace lived a remarkable, fascinating life, inspiring and teaching thousands of children and adults.

Born in St. Augustine, FL in 1938 to Marguerita Phillips and Raymond Kuhrt she spent her early childhood in St. Augustine and then in Philadelphia, PA. The youngest of 3 girls she travelled the world with her mother where she inherited her mother's love of art and music.

Educated at Germantown Friends School in PA, she went on to get her degree from Philadelphia College of Art. She also received her master's degrees from The University of Madrid and Norwich University.

After college she met and married her former husband and friend, Donald Ciocca. They relocated to Holliston, MA where they raised their family.

At an early age she found her love for teaching. She started as a swim instructor and lifeguard at the YWCA at age 15. She continued this in Holliston teaching swimming and lifeguarding at Lake Winthrop. She taught and certified thousands of swimmers, lifeguards and water safety instructors in the course of her lifetime. She truly believed the Red Cross Motto, learn to swim and swim well.

When her children were older, she began a 30-year career teaching High School Art and Spanish at Marian High School in Framingham. Her classroom was always open to anyone, and she encouraged and fostered many young artists, many who have gone on to their own professional careers. During this time, she also was the beach director for the Town of Framingham for 30 years and oversaw the running of 3 beaches and their fall and spring swim programs. She taught Art and Water Exercise for Keefe Tech Continuing education for over 20 years. Also teaching at Newbury College and Mt. Ida College.

Grace was always busy teaching others, whether in the classroom or at home. She found time to have the most beautiful gardens, always sharing her plants and knowledge with anyone that asked. She also shared her talents when asked, playing the harp for the Framingham Symphony Orchestra as well as St. Mary's Church.

Always an athlete, in her 50's she was encouraged to try Triathlons. This brought out her competitive side. She competed Nationally and Internationally and set several course records in her age group, some of which still stand. She was once ranked 4th in the World, yet she would say her biggest accomplishments were her 3 Ironman races and the friends she made along the way.

In 1996 she was selected to carry the Olympic Torch which, to her was an incredible honor and one of her greatest memories.

She was a 50+ year member of the Framingham Chapter of the DAR and a member of Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Constitution.

Grace or Camellia to many never met an animal she didn't love, she "adopted" countless cats and bunnies if they needed a good home.

Grace is lovingly survived by her children: Robert Joseph Ciocca and his girlfriend Amy Linn, Camellia Rose Palinkas and her husband Stephen, Christina Catherine Luongo and her husband Robert.  She was the hero to adoring grandchildren Angelina Jacqueline Luongo and Anthony Joseph Luongo. Affectionally remembered as Honey by her dear sister Katherine Burtin of St. Augustine, FL and Aunt Honey to many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Faith and Joseph Tiberio her brother-in-laws, Vernon Huppi and Jean Burtin, and her nephews, Frederick Tiberio and Eduard Huppi and her former husband Donald Ciocca.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday March 15th at 12:00 PM in the Chapel of the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main St. Ashland, MA.  Visiting hours will be held Friday from 10:00-11:30am prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Red Cross or Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton, MA

https://www.redcross.org/

https://baypathhumane.org/