Grace Elizabeth Glanden

Grace Elizabeth Glanden was unexpectedly granted her angel wings on August 21, 2017. She left us in the spirit she came to us, enjoying every moment of life as she ventured to help prepare a beach nest for the birth of baby sea turtles, after a summer full of fun, and a day that held a total solar eclipse.

Gracie was born on May 4, 2009, in Suffolk, VA, and lived in Smithfield, VA. She moved to the Richmond area in 2008, and found her forever home in Powhatan, VA, in January 2016. Grace attended Powhatan Elementary School. She brought energy, enthusiasm, sweetness, love, and a bit of sassiness to everywhere she called home, but her time in Powhatan saw her blossom.

Grace so loved animals, the outdoors, family, making and drawing things, and journaling. Grace found joy in the many bunnies, deer, birds, and flowers surrounding her home, and she loved playing with her dog Pumpkin, and keeping her cat Penelope on her toes, as well as chatting with her chicken Rosa in the garden. Grace loved playing outside, blowing bubbles, swinging on her swing, visiting the library, playing in the YMCA pool, fishing on her Granny and Pop Pop’s pier and her Grandpop’s boat, and taking hikes in parks across the state.

Grace leaves her family with notes and drawings tucked in all kinds of hiding places waiting to be discovered and read. So many of her notes mention her family and their adventures to visit family and places.

In her short time on this earth, Grace asked big questions about life around her, her future, and pushed her family to explore new things. Grace couldn’t decide whether she wanted to be a veterinarian, or to be a designer, and then, of course, the question then was, a designer of what. She loved having prettiness surround her, and was a collector of items she found sentimental or beautiful. Grace was able to attend two art camps over the summer, where she glowed at the end of each session.

Grace is survived by her mother, Melissa, her father, Brian, and her two older brothers, Brodie and Erik. Her brothers were her world. She always asked, “What did I like to do as a baby?”, and we would tell her, whatever the boys were doing, she was there - in a princess dress with a Star Wars lightsaber. She had a style all her own that embraced her passion of the day.

She so loved her grandparents Harold and Janice Glanden, and Steven and Mary Mathusek. She adored her aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. If she had her way, she would have visited them every day. She is preceded in death by her Great Grandmom Monica Statkevicz, and her Great Gram Pauline Mathusek. We know she is with them talking their ear off, and perhaps, enjoying a cup of tea.

A viewing and mass will be held at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Powhatan, VA, on Saturday, August 26, 2017. The viewing will be from 10:00-11:00. Memories of Grace will be shared beginning at 10:45, and Mass will begin at 11:00. Interment will follow at the Powhatan Community Cemetery, with a celebration of Grace’s life to be held at her home following burial. Grace loved color, so we request that all attending her funeral wear a splash of color to bring a little brightness to the day.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to an organization with Gracie’s spirit and passion for life in mind.