Mary Grace Rice, daughter of the late Harry and Myrtle Slack who immigrated to Canada from England in the early 1900s, was born October 8, 1923 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She was a graduate of Sandwich High School and Grace Hospital Nursing Program. She was proud to train with the Salvation Army during World War II, and worked as a Registered Nurse in Canada and the United States.
Mary met her future husband Charles Rice through a mutual friend and had an instant connection. They married on August 26, 1950. After marrying Chuck, she was a homemaker and mother of 5, and eventually became a U.S. citizen. Chuck was a reservist for the U.S. Army Air Corps/ USAF so the family traveled a lot to TX, MS, MI, FL while eventually settling in Nassau Bay, TX where he became the Head of Safety for NASA.
Mary was an active member of St. Paul’s Parish for almost 50 years. She was the President of the Houston Chapter of the Reserve Officers Association Ladies Club. She participated in the first Harvard Nurses’ Health Study and continued for 40 years. Mary also enjoyed reading mystery novels, baking, and knitting and sewing for her children.
She peacefully departed this life on February 6, 2019 at her son Bill’s home in Phoenix, AZ. She was preceded in death by her siblings Edward “Bud” Slack, Myrtle Bernice Fletcher, and Ida O’Neil.
She is survived by her husband Charles Rice; her children: Joseph Rice, William Rice, Catherine Rice, Susan Rice and Jennifer Rice; grandchildren: Jonathan Rice, Winston Carter, William Rice and daughter-in-law Anna Rice; and great-grandchildren Holden, Lucas, Asher and Mina.
The viewing will be held from 2:00-4:00 pm on Monday, February 11, 2019 at Hansen Mortuary Chapel, 8314 N. 7th St., Phoenix 85020. The funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 11001 N. 40th St., Phoenix 85028, with burial to follow at 1:00 PM at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix 85024. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.
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Ray and Kathy Taylor
February 11, 2019 at 11:49 amSo sorry for your loss, Bill., Trudy and Jonathan. I met your Mom on several occasions and she was a lovely woman. May she rest in eternal peace until you meet again.