Obituary of Grace McElroy

Grace McElroy, 84, of Freehold Township succumbed to her three year battle with pancreatic cancer on Sunday, September 9, 2018 at home surrounded by her family.  She was born in New York City, raised in Brooklyn, and lived in Morganville before settling in Freehold Township in 2007.  Prior to working as an administrative secretary for social security in Sayreville for 17 years, Grace worked for American Express for 20 years in Manhattan where she met her husband, Martin. As a devoted catholic, Grace also was a CCD teacher and member of the bereavement committee at St. Clements Roman Catholic Church, Matawan. Grace loved spending time with her grandchildren.  She also enjoyed crafting, sewing, decorating, traveling, tending to her garden, playing bocce, and cooking for the whole family. She was an active member of the Riviera Retirement Community and the Riviera Clubhouse Committee in Freehold for many years. Grace fought hard during her illness, and her strong will and feistiness will be forever remembered and missed.

Grace is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, Martin McElroy of Freehold Township; children, Susan Palmer of Maryland and Martin McElroy and his wife, Jean of Warren; six grandchildren, Ryan McElroy, Amanda McElroy, Gabrielle Paulsen, Chloe Paulsen, Lori Travis and her husband, Aaron, and Jennifer Smardon and her husband, Matthew; three great grandchildren, Elizabeth Travis, Hannah Smardon, and Ava Smardon; and her fur babies, Snickers and Reina.

A visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend her 10:00 AM Funeral Mass on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township.  Entombment will follow in Holmdel Cemetery, Holmdel.  For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For information, directions, or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.