Grace V. Livermore

Grace V. (Engebretson) Livermore age 77 and long-time resident of Concord passed away on Friday, October 17, 2008 at Concord Heath Care Center. She was the wife of the late Albert V. Livermore.

Born in Concord on September 15, 1931 she was the daughter of the late Ellis A. and Grace C. (Kalish) Engebretson. She was the first of 32 grandchildren, and one of the first babies delivered at the Emerson Hospital Maternity Ward.

Raised and educated in Concord, Mrs. Livermore graduated from Concord High School in 1950. She was involved with her high school field hockey team as their Equipment Manager. She was also a member of the Concord Girl Scouts and was proud to have moved up to the Rainbow Girls. Grace's first job as a teenager was as a relish tray girl at Wright's Tavern; she was also a waitress for George and Helen Denisavich at the original Helen's Restaurant. After graduating from high school she began working at the Concord Bowling Alley for the Smethurst family as a counter-girl and short order cook. While working at the bowling alley, she met Albert Livermore and they married on March 27, 1954 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Grace and Albert managed apartments on the Las Vegas strip before moving back to Concord in 1955. Albert surprised Grace by showing her the new houses being built on Elsinore Street and told her to "pick one and it's yours". They moved into their new home in 1956 and eight years later adopted their first daughter, Lori Anne, and a year later Karen Lee rounded out the family. During the Blizzard of February 1969, Albert suffered a heart attack, while trying to rescue a local man who was stuck inside his car in a snow bank, leaving Grace to raise their two daughters on her own (this was one of her greatest achievements).

Grace had a deep love of music and sang in the Concord High Chorus, the Concord Chorus, and the Trinitarian Congregational Church Choir where she was a member. Grace also enjoyed the sport of candlepin bowling and was often seen practicing after her shift ended at the Concord Bowling Alley. She won several bowling trophies for singles and doubles tournaments, and also bowled for the Boston Globe in the 1960's. Her other interests included local birding, gardening, and caring for and growing houseplants.

Mrs. Livermore was best known for her home-based childcare business. All the children who were cared for called her "Nana" for which even their parents referred to her as. Grace was so pleased to get visits from the alumni kids over the years after she retired. She will always be known for her caring and generous ways and will be remembered by many who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her two daughters Lori and her husband Bruce Hack of Concord and Karen and her husband David Crist of Lowell, her sister Marion Hanson of Lunenburg, two grandsons Harley Crist and Carter Hack and several nieces and nephews.