Obituary of Gracie Marie Maynard

January 1, 1957 - July 16, 2025

Gracie Maynard (nee House) of Hawkes Bay, NL, has passed away peacefully following a short illness. Leaving to mourn are her loving husband Tom, beloved children Aaron (Lesley), Byron (Shelley), step-daughter Chrissy Simmonds (Mike), brothers Selwyn (Marisa), John (Ivy), grandchildren Jacob, Michael, Mark, James, William & Willow, nephews Adrian and James, niece Abby, and a wide circle of family and friends.

She is predeceased by her parents, John and Mary House, in-laws Wallace and Eliza Maynard, and nephews Steven and William Joeseph (BJ) Maynard.

Gracie pursued a career in education, obtaining a B.A and a B.Ed. from MUN and a M.Ed. at Acadia University in Nova Scotia. Her career took her from her first teaching position, in Parsons Pond in 1978, all the way to Dean of Keyano College in Ft. McMurray. There she was responsible for all community training, oilsands entry training, and managing all satellite campuses in northern Alberta, up to Ft. Chipewyan.

She then returned home to Hawkes Bay in 2016 to be close to aging parents and to support her husband, Tom, with taking over the family business. Through all of that, the most significant events of her life, was the birth of her two sons, Aaron & Byron. The days they were born, she experienced a love she didn’t know was possible to have, and that love never wavered.

In 1985 she married Tom, the love of her life and soulmate. They shared over 40 years of joys and sorrows, and she was so blessed to have his love and support through the journey of life. The family would like to thank the staff in ward 5D at Western Memorial Hospital and the palliative care unit for their compassionate and professional care during her stay.

In keeping with her wish’s cremation has taken place. A funeral service will take place at Saint John the Divine Anglican Church in Port Saunders, 1 PM, Sunday, July 20.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Canadian Cancer Society.