CAMDEN — Grace Galanti Stearns, 91, passed away on November 30, 2024, at her home of 60 years, after a brief illness.

Born in Camden, December 15, 1932, she was the daughter of Felice and Gertrude Galanti, being the fourth of five daughters. Grace graduated from Camden High School in 1951, where she met her best friend and soul-mate, Frank Stearns. They were married May 14, 1955 and remained together for over 63 years, until his passing in January of 2019.

In high school, Grace was an accomplished athlete, participating in the softball, field hockey, and bowling teams. Her favorite sport was basketball however, in which she participated all four years and was the co-captain of the championship team her Senior year.

Grace was extremely proud of her role as a wife, mother and grandmother, however she also worked several jobs throughout her lifetime. Before marriage, she worked at Bell Telephone in Massachusetts. After marrying Frank and returning to Camden, Grace worked part-time at Hodgman’s Footwear while raising their two children. In her later years, Grace managed the accounting books and reservations for The Windjammer Angelique and Maine Windjammer Cruises.

Grace was a devout member of Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church in Camden and an active participant in their Women’s Club. She was always knitting or crocheting baby blankets, sweaters, socks and other items for the club’s charities and helped out with endless luncheons put on by the church.

Both Grace and Frank were active in the Camden High School Alumni Committee, helping to organize fund raising for scholarships, monthly luncheons and annual reunions.

Grace was predeceased by her husband, Frank; parents, Felice and Gertrude Galanti; and her four sisters and their husbands, Gianina Ames and husband Edwin, Anna Webb and husband John ‘Chic’, Mary Smyth and husband Arthur ‘Red’, and Betty Anderson and husband Edward.

Grace is survived by her daughter, Deena Andersen and husband Tim of Rockport, Maine; her son, Frank Stearns, Jr. and wife Amy of Poland, Maine; granddaughter Jamie Shepard of Springvale, Maine; granddaughters, Kayla Ruby and husband Kevin of Tacoma, Washington, Lauren Cromie and husband Nick of Madison Heights, Michigan; and grandson, Frank Stearns, III (Trey) of Northborough, Massachusetts. Her many nieces and nephews will miss her as well.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, January 10, 2024  at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church, 7 Union St., Camden. Private interment will be held in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Good Hope Women’s Club, 7 Union St., Camden, ME, 04843.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter and Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland. To share a memory or condolence with the Stearns family, visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.