Grace Arbury's Obituary
Grace Matan Platt Arbury, of Bethany Beach, DE and Annapolis, MD, died January 27, 2024, after a courageous and prolonged battle with cancers. She was surrounded by her loving husband, children, and grandchildren.
Grace was born June 22, 1938, in Washington, DC, daughter of the late Anne Marie (Caulfield) Matan and the late M. Joseph Matan. She had 5 siblings; Joseph Anthony Matan, James Matan, Mary Liipfert, Anne Easby-Smith and the late Thomas Matan.
As a child, Grace spent her summers in Emmitsburg, MD and then in Rehoboth Beach, DE.
Grace attended the Blessed Sacrament School, Georgetown Visitation and then the University of Maryland where she met her future husband and father of their three children, Dewitt Platt. As the wife of a Naval Officer, Grace raised her young family in Florida, Hawaii, and Colorado before settling in Kensington, MD. After retirement, Grace and Dewitt moved to Stowe, VT where she enjoyed skiing and volunteering at Blessed Sacrament Parish. After ten years in Stowe, Grace and Dewitt returned to the Mid-Atlantic with Dewitt dying of cancer in 2007.
In 2009 Grace married longtime family friend and neighbor Captain Howard Miniter. They were married until he succumbed to cancer in 2011.
In 2013 she met her husband, Jim Arbury. Together they traveled extensively to Italy, Ireland, and Portugal, cruising the Caribbean and Transatlantic, the opera in Cooperstown, horse racing in Saratoga Springs and spent winters in Captiva, while calling Annapolis and Bethany Beach home.
Grace was a master gardener and loved spending time outdoors, soaking up the sunshine.
Her Face, Her Voice, Her smile. Made the world a better place for all who encountered her.
She is survived by her husband, Jim, her children; Karen Geppert, Stephen Platt and
Jacqueline Needham, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 11AM, at St. Ann Catholic Church, 691 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach, DE with Monsignor John Enzler as Celebrant. Friends and family may call beginning at 10:00 AM. The Rite of Committal and burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 32112 Vines Creek Rd, Dagsboro, DE 19939.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Grace’s name to St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, 2305 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218 or go to https://www.vincentbaltimore.org/ways-to-give/
FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE HAVE ALL FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS DELIVERED TO PARSELL FUNERAL HOMES, OCEAN VIEW, BY 3PM ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 31.
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