Marie Leavy Graycar
May 24, 1917 - Jan 25, 2015
Marie Leavy Graycar, 97, went peacefully to God at her home in Redwood City CA on Sunday, January 25. The eldest child of Raymond and Marie (Sheehan) Leavy, Marie was born in Perth Amboy New Jersey and is survived by her brothers Thomas and Edward Leavy and her sisters Katherine Smith, Joanne Hiller, and Margaret Crawford. Her brothers Raymond, James, Christopher and Paul Leavy, and her sisters Helen DiPane and Agnes Kouten preceded her in death.
Marie’s life was blessed as the beloved wife of Michael Graycar (d.1999) for 58 years, and loving mother of Marie Berg (d.2005), Paula Higashi, Cathleen McGeeney, Michele Otte, Patricia York, Chris, Joe, Pete, and Tom Graycar. A compassionate and tireless woman, Marie cared for many of her 23 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren in her retirement years while also working as a Filoli garden docent and sewing hundreds of layette sets for Birthright International.
Michael and Marie met while students at New Jersey State Teachers College in Trenton NJ and married in 1941 shortly after their graduation. While Michael served in the Army Air Corps during WWII, Marie worked as a radar equipment inspector at Emerson Radio in Chicago. Moving to California after the war, they eventually settled into their home in the hills above Redwood City in 1948. Marie continued her education at San Jose State College where she received a Masters degree in Library Studies in 1965. She was hired by the Fremont Union High School District and assigned the task of setting up a new library at Lynbrook High School where she worked as head librarian from 1966 when the school opened until 1980. Marie was an avid reader, enjoyed gardening and planned many trips abroad with her husband. She was an YLI president and a long time member of the local Marian study club.
A vigil and rosary service for Marie will take place at the Crippen and Flynn Woodisde Chapel on February 6 from 5pm until 9pm. Her funeral service will be at St. Matthias Church on Saturday, February 7, 11am. A public burial will follow at Holy Cross cemetery in Menlo Park.