Henry DeGrace, 96, of Fairhaven passed away Monday December 18, 2017 at home.
Born in Fall River, the son of the late Isaac and Mary Angel (Rego) DeGrace, he was raised on Cape Cod, later residing in Somerset, Fall River, Springfield, and New Bedford. Before World War II, he left school in the ninth grade and using his deceased brother's birth certificate he enlisted in the U.S. Army to help support his mother and siblings.
During his time in the Army, he served with the world famous 101st Airborne Division. He participated in Operation Market Garden parachuting into Holland and then later in the infamous Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded a Bronze Star and two Purple Heart medals. He also took part in the liberating of German concentration camps in Southern Bavaria. While in the Army he met and married his first wife Gladys Gilmette who died tragically in an automobile accident in 1948. He then was discharged from the service and returned to live in Fall River. He later met and married his second wife Ana Borges, who passed away in 1976 after an illness with cancer.
Henry remained in New Bedford until his retirement from the U.S. Postal Service after many years of service. He then started to follow his older brother around the globe, first moving to Malaga, Spain, then later to Holiday, Florida. In 2000, he returned to live in Massachusetts.
He is survived by his children, Toni Andrade, Douglas DeGrace, Brenda DeGrace, and Henry "Chico" DeGrace; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his son Dudley "P.G." DeGrace.
His visitation will be held on Saturday Dec. 23rd from 11:30 AM- 1:30 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by his Funeral Service at 1:30 PM. Burial in St. John's Cemetery will be private. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.