Grace (Magista) Persin

Grace M. Persin

February 16, 1921 – August 1, 2012

Grace Magista Persin, 91, of Palmyra, PA and formerly of Warner Robins, GA, entered into eternal rest on August 1, 2012.

Grace was born February 16, 1921 in Conversano, Italy. She was the daughter of the late Biagio and Fontina (Lonardelli) Magista. Grace’s family immigrated to the United States when she was three years old. She graduated from McKinley High School in Washington, DC in 1938.

Grace was the widow of Lt. Col. Charles Persin, Jr., her beloved husband of forty-three years, who passed away in 1986. Grace and Chuck enjoyed traveling during his career in the Air Force; they lived in Washington, DC, California, Germany, Alaska and Georgia.

Grace was the mother of Kathleen and mother-in-law of James Bertrand of Palmyra; grandmother of Jennifer Bertrand of Hershey, Jeffrey Bertrand of Seattle, WA, and Jessica Giansanti of Palmyra; and great grandmother of Olivia and Mia Giansanti of Palmyra.  She is also survived by her sister, Mary Torelli of Ashburn, VA.

Grace was a member of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Palmyra, the Palmyra Garden Club and the Fort Indiantown Gap Officers’ Wives’ Club. For more than twenty years, Grace was a dedicated volunteer with the blood bank at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 245 West Pine Street, Palmyra. Fr. James F. Podlesny, OSB will officiate. Visitation with Grace’s family will be held one hour prior to Mass in the church’s Narthex. Full service details will be published upon completion.  Online condolences may be extended and updated service details can be found on www.Rothermelfuneralhome.com .  Grace will be inurned with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery.

To honor Grace’s life, her commitment to the blood bank, and her appreciation of the life sustaining blood products she received for many years, please consider donating blood to the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank.

To recognize Grace’s support during her granddaughter Jessica’s treatment for breast cancer, donations can be made to the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, 344 North Reading Road, Ephrata, PA 17522.

Arrangements are being handled by Rothermel Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 25 West Pine Street, Palmyra, PA 17078.