Minnie Grace Prasada Rao

Grace Rao (Minnie Grace Prasada Rao nee Thomas) was born April 15, 1913 in Nazareth, South India. Her parents Sellammal and Edward Duraisamy Thomas welcomed her as the first born of five children. She graduated from the South India Training School in Krishnarajapuram, South India with Secretarial training. Her first job took her to Poona, India where she worked as a secretary. While working in the office, she met her former teacher Mathi Samuel Prasada Rao. Grace and Sam were married on February 12, 1936. Their honeymoon took them back to their old school where they worked for several years. They returned to Poona, where their lives were enriched by the births of their two daughters Loretta and Stella. Sam's work took then to several locations including Singapore where Grace accompanied Sam. In 1954, they attended a General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church which was held in San Francisco, CA. There they met with Graces two brothers who had settled in California. Sam and Grace made this "around the world" trip an adventure using many modes of transportation including hitch hiking in the Middle East! They savored and recounted these experiences. Throughout their married life, Poona was the home base from which they journeyed into other areas of India when called. Grace was an earnest believer in her church. Wherever she lived, besides her regular duties, Grace was active in planning programs, teaching classes and training young people. She served in an honorary capacity when funds were lacking. After her mother's death, Sam and Grace moved to the U.S. to be with their daughter Stella and her husband Edward Samuel to help with their grandchildren in Denver, CO. Altitude and severe winters necessitated their move to a more temperate climate. They settled in Santa Cruz, CA. to be near their daughter Loretta and her husband Richard Josephson. Grace's life continued to revolve around the church and its activities. Sam passed away in 1994. The Santa Cruz SDA church became a second home to her. She loved to tell stories to the children. She sang in the choir until she was in her eighties, even though her hearing was failing. God bless the church that encouraged that participation! When a baptism was held in the ocean, Grace attended though it meant pushing her walker through the sand. Her life was a living testament to her love for God. After a full and rich life, at 102 years of age, Grace fell asleep to awaken to the voice of her Lord. Grace was well loved by her many friends in the church, her apartment complex, the community, India and throughout the world. Her love for people and joy of life will be missed. She leaves behind her daughters, Loretta Rao (Richard Josephson), Stella (Ed Samuel), grandchildren Corina Josephson, Marc and Sean Samuel, three great grandsons and three great-great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Tom and wife Ardys Prasada Rao and a whole host of nephews, nieces and their children from the Thomas, Fernando and Prasada Rao families. Our thanks to Doctors Chandra, Poth, Edwards, Cress and Vu for their loving care, and to Jo Ann Cacace, Fatima Cunha, Christy Krynak and little Izzy who entered Grace's home as strangers and became part of her family. A private interment is planned. A Celebration of Life service for Grace Rao will be held on Sunday, August 16, 2015 at 11:00 am, at the Santa Cruz Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1024 Cayuga Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Ph. 831-429-1442. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Santa Cruz SDA Church for the Grace Rao fund.