Grace R. Volkman's Obituary
Grace passed away peacefully at home in Coronado with family at her side on April 19, 2018.Born Grace Rosemary Mackris to Katherine and Thomas in Manhattan, New York. She was raised with her older brother, George, in Brooklyn.From an early age, music was her life. She was a gifted pianist who would go on to audition and be accepted in to the prestigious Julliard School of Performing Arts. She admitted to having played recitals at Carnegie Hall.After school was out, she worked in the second floor underground of the Empire State Building as a bank teller. Good with numbers, her lines would always move quickly as she used the Remington Rand hand crank calculator. While at work on July 28, 1945 at 9:49 a.m., a B-25 bomber crashed in to the building, A day she’d never forget.There were fond memories she shared of growing up in a small apartment in the heart of the city. The family would attend Easter Sunday services at St. Patrick’s Cathedral where the ushers would dress in tuxedo’s. She remembered riding the “BMT” subway to Coney Island and it costing a nickel. When told that the prices had risen over the past 70 years, she would shriek!During the heart of the depression, Grace got a job at Ebinger’s French bakery. They were a Brooklyn institution and although now closed, is still famous for their Blackout Cake.In November of 1946, Grace was persuaded by a friend to accompany her on a blind date. It was then that she met Henrik Volkman, a young Navy man on leave in Philadelphia. He told her he was from Coronado and at the end of the evening, wanted to “put her in a box and bring her to California with him.”Two months later, she found herself engaged and heading west on a train to Los Angeles where Henrik met her for the last leg of the journey. They arrived in San Diego, boarded the ferry and hopped on the Orange Avenue trolley bound for the home of his mother, Synove. Today, this property remains in the family and is owned by Grace’s nephew, Gary Pitts and his wife Jennifer.January 19, 1946, Grace and Henrik were married at Sacred Heart Church. After a short stay in Coronado, they made their way to Washington state and started a family. Like most military, they moved many times over the years as Henrik was stationed in parts of Oregon, California and Hawaii.Their last stop was returning to Coronado in the 1970’s. Henrik had retired from the military and while raising their family, Grace continued teaching piano. Both she and her students won top awards. She enjoyed playing at the homes of friends and especially for family at Christmas. An incredible teaching lineage has been traced from her back to Chopin! When asked her favorite composers she was quick to say Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin.When driving no longer became an option, the motorized cart carried her wherever she needed to go. Many will remember her zipping around town with her bag of hand crocheted pieces. “What’s your favorite color, she’d ask?” You’d then be handed a coaster or a dish cloth. Many of us can now boast of having a drawer full!The game of Bridge became a passion and she worked diligently on earning her master points. Of her many partner’s, Admiral Bob Erly was one of her favorites. They were regulars at the Senior Center and Grace would explain that they were perfect partner’s that made up for one another’s weaknesses. Her eye sight was failing and he was becoming hard of hearing.Some of her favorite advice and sayings were, “never take no for an answer”, “ask for the supervisor” and “it could always be worse”.She recognized many angels in her life. Along with her family, Grace especially loved her friends from Sacred Heart; Father Michael Murphy and Monsignor Jeremiah O’Sullivan with whom she shared the same birthday. When no longer able to attend Mass, Linda Clark would visit on Mondays and bring her the Eucharist. Dr. Lund was not only her doctor but considered a friend. Her care and compassion, especially in Grace’s final days, will not be forgotten.The piano is now silent but, her sons, John and Paul and daughter, Ann Marie along with their families and friends are left with many treasured memories.May she rest in peace.A Celebration of her Life will be held on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Coronado. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the Rosary and Mass at 11:00 a.m. Graveside services take place at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. where Grace will be interred alongside Henrik and her son, Patrick. A reception will follow.
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