Elvira (Vera) Gracis

Elvira (Vera) Gallasso Bartelt Gracis, 100, of Denton, NC passed away on Friday, February 09, 2024, at Clapps Nursing Home in Asheboro.

Vera was born on June 23, 1923, in Manchester, CT to Mary and John Gallasso. After moving to Union City, New Jersey, she graduated from Emerson High School, and worked at the Draft Office and then at Chubb & Sons in Manhattan, New York. She married the love of her life, Gerhard C. Bartelt on August 29, 1944, and after he left the US Army Air Corps, they settled in River Edge, NJ. Since her husband worked for General Electric International, they lived for a number of years in Panama (1955-1958) and then Mexico City (1961-1964). After her husband died in a tragic accident in Mexico, Vera returned to New Jersey and later married Ido Gracis on July 3, 1966, and moved to Oradell, NJ.

During her career she worked for several years part-time at Bloomingdales Department Store, then worked for Gracis Printing, later at Schofield Pharmacy in Cresskill, NJ. She belonged to a High School group of friends known as the Keyettes. The group met at least once a year for over 50 years. Since her daughters’ families had moved to North Carolina she finally agreed to join them there in 2013. She was a devout member of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Lexington, NC.

While retired in North Carolina, Vera enjoyed painting, reading, playing cards with her neighborhood friends, and living with family.

She was preceded in death by her husbands Gerhard Bartelt who died in a car accident in 1964, and Ido Gracis who passed away in 1975, and a stepson, Jerry Gracis in 2015.

She is survived by her daughters Karen Berry (Robert) of Elm City, NC; Marlene Young (Ralph) of Denton, NC. A stepson George Gracis (Meredith) Aspen, CO., Daughter-in-law Marian Gracis (Trabuco) Canyon, CA., Seven grandchildren, Jennifer Wilson (James) Baltimore, MD; Denise Williamson (Chris) Monroe, NY, Robert Berry (Jackie) Fort Worth, TX; Alex Berlow (Corey) Suffern, NY; Amanda Gracis, CA, Grant Gracis (Ashley) Denver, CO; Ryan Young (Angela Brown) Winston Salem, NC. Also eight great-grandchildren, Connor, Sean & Liam Williamson, Cassadee & Kaia Berry, Gracie & Olivia Berlow, Maddoc Gracis.

A memorial service will be held at Briggs Funeral Home Memorial Chapel, 103 E. Salisbury St., Denton at  10:00 AM on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. Inurnment will be in New Jersey at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 www.woundedwarriorprojet.org or 877-832-6997.

Online condolences can be made to the family at www.briggsfuneralhome.com