Judith Colleen Grace

Judith Colleen Grace (nee Brackett), wife of the late Michael Grace, devoted mother of Leslie (Joe) Ruhe and the late Michele Grace, loving grandmother of Julia (Ben) Hodgson, Carter Ruhe and McKinley Ruhe, doting great-grandmother of Pierce Hodgson and the soon to be born Nico Colin Hodgson, and dear sister of Kathleen Brackett and the late Cherie Isaacs, passed away surrounded by her family on March 10, 2025 at the age of 75.

Colleen was born in Flint, MI on July 13, 1949, the oldest child of her parents, Judith and Harold Brackett. After moving to Cincinnati at a young age, she attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help and graduated from Seton High School in 1967. In 1970, she married Mike, who was in the U.S. Army. Over the next few years, they lived in Germany and traveled the world together. Her love for travel stayed with her throughout her life. They started their family after returning home to Cincinnati. Colleen was always involved in her daughter’s lives whether it was serving as PTO President or Treasurer, being a class room mom, chaperoning field trips or helping with dance costumes and props. And she never missed a game or performance. She did all that while working full time at Cincinnati Electrical Tool for over 30 years, a job she loved almost as much as she loved the people she worked with.

As her children became older, her focus shifted to her grandchildren. She witnessed the births of each of them and had plenty of one-on-one time with them all. The bond she had between each of her grandchildren was very rare. Until she became sick, she never missed any of their games or performances and was a daily fixture in their lives. When not cheering on her grandkids and their friends, she enjoyed cheering for the Bengals, UC Bearcats and the University of Michigan. She also loved to cook, especially for the holidays and in true Italian fashion there was always enough food for many guests.

Friends and family are welcome to join us for a visitation on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at the Vitt, Stermer and Anderson Funeral Home, 4619 Delhi Pike from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Church, 810 Neeb Road. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Delhi Skirt Game, 934 Need Road, Cincinnati, OH 45233.