Alice Ruth Grabarczyk

With heavy hearts, the family of Alice Ruth Grabarczyk, share the news of her passing on October 20, 2021 at the age of 84. Alice was born in Bellevue, Ohio, on January 7, 1937 to the late Charles and Ruth (Newton) Cotterill, II. She was blessed to grow up on a small farm in Milan where Christian and family values prevailed and provided the foundation for her strong work ethic and an even stronger moral and spiritual compass. After high school, Alice moved to Clyde and attended Bowling Green State University while teaching and raising three young children. Alice graduated in 1967 with a degree in elementary education and continued to teach elementary school (grades K-3) in the Clyde, Fremont, and Bellevue school districts where she earned recognition as an Outstanding Teacher by the Leaders of American and Elementary and Secondary Education in 1971. She took a break from teaching in the early 1970s to focus on the arrival of her fourth child and the activities of the three older children. In the late 1970s, Alice started ballroom dance lessons where she met and later married Richard Grabarczyk, the love of her life, in 1982. After moving to Toledo, Alice resumed teaching at St. Clement’s Elementary School from 1986-1990 and then spent the next 20 years as an extraordinarily dedicated grandmother to three lucky grandchildren. During retirement, she enjoyed playing the piano, studying the Bible, baking cookies and treats for others, and hosting family gatherings. A profound love for children, animals, music, art, education, and religion shaped Alice’s entire life. As a student in the Monroeville and York school systems, Alice played the flute and violin, participated in school plays and was a cheerleader. While in college she studied the lost art of silversmithing and created some beautiful handmade works of art. In addition to dancing, she enjoyed listening to big band/swing music as well as piano and instrumental hymns. Alice will be remembered as a loving wife, a devoted mother/grandmother/great grandmother/ an outstanding teacher, and a kind-hearted and generous friend and neighbor. Our lives will never be the same without her, but we look forward to reuniting with her someday. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of nearly 39 years, Richard; four children: Candace (James) Seving, Michael (Deborah) Streeter, Kellyann (Douglas) Hartnett and Shereen Streeter; three grandchildren: Andrew Hartnett, Amanda (Nathan) Cain, and Jennifer Streeter; two great-grandchildren: Julianna Streeter and Carter Cain; brother, Howard (Becky) Cotterill and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Charles Cotterill, III. The family would like to thank the wonderful 7th floor nurses and caretakers at The Toledo Hospital and the compassionate staff at Ebeid Hospice during her recent illness. For health safety, the celebration of her life will be limited to a private graveside service on Monday, October 25, 2021 followed by a private memorial mass at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Alice’s name to The Toledo Humane Society.