Born September 23, 1917, in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, to Joseph and Rose Marie Panucci, Grace Farrar was one of sixteen children in an exceptional Italian family. Known, even at ninety-eight, for her pearls, bright red lipstick, and beautifully manicured nails, Grace was truly what she came to be called, Amazing Grace. Following high school graduation, Grace attended business school and worked at Kaufmans department store. Grace married her high school sweetheart, Don Farrar, in 1943. They spent over fifty-three wonderful years together, until his passing in 1996. During World War II, Grace accompanied Don to Texas and worked there in the war effort as he prepared to go overseas. Grace and Don had four children, Donna Grace Farrar, Louis Farrar (Nancy), Deborah Rubio, and Leslie Farrar-Finklea (Jim). Grace and Don moved their growing family to Southern California in 1954. In addition to raising her family, Grace managed the family business, Don Farrar Realty, became a charter member of the Charter Oak Women's Club, a well-known member of South Hills Country Club, a member of St. Lucy's Guild, and a faithful parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In her later years, Grace added bridge to her love of bunco, and was a lively member of the Larkhill Girls. Among her passions, even into her nineties, were Charter Oak Football, tail-gaiting before UCLA football games, and the Lakers. Not only is Grace survived by her loving children, she also leaves a sister, Evelyn Gross, a brother, Joseph Panucci, and many other saddened family members and friends. She will always be Macaw to her grand-children, Dominic Farrar (Adriana), Natalie Adams (Stacy), Christopher Rubio (Jolie), Anthony Finklea, and eight great-grandchildren, Louis, Cruz, Alec, Donovan, Vincent, Maguire, Sophia, Lorelei, Alec and Damon. The family expresses its deepest appreciation to her home caregiver, Carmen Rodriguez, and to the caring and dedicated staff at Citrus Valley Hospice. Grace was known, to all who came in contact with her, as the fun-loving, kind and generous matriarch of the Farrar family. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of April 24, 2016. Her children, and her family, are bereft at her loss, but her legacy and her love will endure, because she was, in truth, the unforgettable Amazing Grace.
