Mary Alice Jean Goldsmith, 71, of Front Royal, Virginia passed away on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at Winchester Medical Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 11 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 120 West Main Street, Front Royal, with Father Joseph Goldsmith officiating.
Mary Alice was born on January 18, 1950 in Youngstown, Ohio to the late Charles and Mary Rita Anderson Grunenwald. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Paul Grunenwald; sister, Mary Anne Grunenwald; sister-in-law, Sue Grunenwald and mother-in-law, Thysla Maria Sanchiz.
Mary Alice was an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church a participated in numerous ministries. She was a beloved and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend whose primary joy was sharing her faith with everyone she met.
Survivors include her husband of 50 years, Rafael Goldsmith; two sons, Christopher Goldsmith (Kim) and Father Joseph Goldsmith; three daughters, Anne Knowles (Daniel), Rebecca Webb (Craig) and Rosemary Cordonnier (Joshua); two sisters, Mary Joan Grunenwald and Mary Rita Clemente (Don); three brothers, Charles Grunenwald (Barbara), David Grunenwald and Mark Grunenwald (Marnie); 17 grandchildren who will remember her cousins camps, Angelica, Grace, Gabriella, Kateri, Joshua, Elijah, Isaiah, Amelia, Isabelle, Finnegan, Felicity, Virginia, Evelyn, Jack, Anna, Jonah and Camille; close friend, Bridget Torres and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 PM on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 from 5 to 8 PM at the Church. The family requests that masks be worn and social distancing observed while greeting the family.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
A link for a livestream of the funeral service has been provided here: https://youtu.be/VvyjO7fAOK4
There is no doubt by her love of faith and family that MaryAlice is heaven. She was a modern-day role model for all to follow. Prayers to the family as they mourn the earthly presence of MaryAlice.
I know that I am a better person for knowing her.
Blessings!
Ralph and family. Please accept my deepest condolences for your incredible loss! Alice was one of the kindest, sweetest people I have ever met. May God bless her soul and give you all strength and keep her in your heart.
Sincerely
John and Ellen Peattie
We express our heartfelt condolences to Ralph and the family, we will miss Mary Alice greatly, she was kind to everyone she met and touched many in amazing ways, I will always remember her beautiful smile and warmth, to know her was to love her! Sending our love and prayers, Mark and Ileana Harbour and family
My dear friend Mary Alice. We will miss you and all the girl things we did together. You took me under your wing as my 2nd family in VA and as a sister. So many things you and I had in common. May our Lord reward you for all your love, kindness, compassion, joys in life and your great love for the Catholic Church and evangelization. Thank you for welcoming me as part of your family. Much love to you my dear sister in Christ.💞 🌹 Peggy
Mary Alice was one of the most kind and generous person I have ever met.
She always reached out providing love and support to others who were hurting or going through a painful situation as she did to me when we first met. We became friends; although not in close contact recently, I treasure the times we spent together.
My sympathies and prayers to Ralph and family. Rest in peace, Mary Alice
and pray for us!
Mary Alice was a wonderful God loving woman, David and I had the pleasure of meeting. She led our prayer group for many years with song and joy! I will always remember when she visited me in the hospital while I was tending to my husband who was critically ill at the time. She told me to read healing stories from the Bible. She saw that I did not have a Bible at the hospital and she gave me hers( which I believed to be her mothers) and said use it while you need it and I know you will return it. I prayed with it and my husband made it through that rough time. She wrote us both notes and sent them to us saying it is always nice to have a handwritten note. She was always looking out for others. I will miss her but I believe she is with the Lord now and He is pleased.
Mom,
You and Dad touched so many lives with your tremendous love and joy for God, family and friends. In the time ahead, it will become evident just how many people your lives touched with such great love over the years. You weren’t just our Mom but a guide, a mentor, a hero and a friend. You always brought out the best in each of us! Your life was a gift and we are thankful for the time we had with you. We are very grateful for the gift of time now with Dad. Our lives are forever changed because of your love for each of us. You both are such a special couple.
We will carry you in our hearts and always remember you as a dear and treasured friend.
With love,
Chris & Kim
Hi Chris (and Kim), so many wonderful words shared by you and so many loving friends about your Mom. Alice was such a dear childhood cousin and friend too. I am still getting use to the idea that she has gone on ahead…I remember even trying to call her this early September. We always were able to try to talk and pray together around each others Birthdays…I will surly miss that for now. However I am ever so grateful too that she is now in Heaven with Jesus, family, friends and God’s unimaginable Goodness, Greatness and Love forever!
My love and hugs to you, Kim, your Dad Ralph, and family!
Keep in touch!
God”s Love and mine,
Cousin Cyndi A.
Mary Alice ran the race.. She kept her faith.. Bless her as she now has that rest in a better place…. A sweet soul indeed..
Maryalice and I met 40 yrs ago in England. She was always so loving and kind. Her laughter was contagious and she always had the biggest smile. We always prayed together and shopped together. We always had fun. She was great with the grandchildren especially. She is forever my best friend and Big sister . God bless her and Rafael and all the family.
Mary Alice,
We love you and we will miss you so much! You touched my family in such a loving way, you taught us how to pray and worship and be at peace, your family is amazing, you and Ralph raised such special children, I will never forget your special and beautiful smile and your kind and gentle ways, I can imagine your beautiful smile now with Jesus and Our Blessed Mother, we love you, prayers for the days ahead for Mary Alice and her family,
Love, Mark and Ileana Harbour and family
My dear friend Mary Alice, I could see God’s presence in your soul. I will always remember your beautiful smile.
May God bless and comfort Deacon Rafael and all your family.
She was compassionate with others, passionate about her faith, always serving others with a joyful smile and a prayer. Earth is so much poorer and heaven so enriched by her presence. Her husband and kids are wonderful people, a testament to her being such a great wife and mother. I personally so appreciate her faithful, fruitful work for the Charismatic Renewal in the diocese. Keeping all the family and friends in my prayers!
Mary Alice had the many gifts of the Holy Spirit! You felt them just being with her Her love and joy was contagious. We saw this in her work with the Life in the Spirit prayer group at All Saints . Thank you for leading us to a deeper love of the Holy Spirit and for being a living example of holiness ! We mourn with you . We do know Mary Alice is receiving her eternal reward. She is truly God’s Good and faithful servant !
What a wonderful soul ,heaven is now blessed with her joy ,hospitality ,singing and love. Ralph and family we are so sorry for your loss , gone too soon from us . We love you all , Gillian and Dick Quintana
Mary Alice Goldsmith was a beautiful person and one of the most selfless and kind souls I’ve met. She will be so missed here in our parish. My heart breaks for the deacon, her husband; as well as all her children and grandchildren. May the angels welcome her to paradise.
Dear Goldsmith family, please know of our prayers for you and your beautiful wife/mother/grandmother. Mary Alice always had a smile on her face and joy in her heart. She and Ralph welcomed our young family to their home many years ago and always shared their love and faith with us whenever we saw them. We love you Mary Alice and know that heaven has gained a beautiful soul. You will be missed. Rest in peace dear lady.
Cynthia Hauris
Mary Alice is a great gift of God to me and my family. I first met Mary Alice in 1998, while my oldest son Jon and her youngest daughter were at Seton school. She was an experienced mother and Catholic woman and shared much helpful advice and encouragement for the numerous family and relationship challenges I faced. She has always been a source of help, love, hope and joy for me as she imaged our Blessed Mother. Later, we worshiped and sang in the contemporary choir together and made many memories celebrating family and life, and the seasons of the church. Mary Alice and Ralph led the leadership of Spirit of Love Prayer Group at all Saints for many years. They both had a way of discovering the gifts of each member and encouraging growth and gifts of self. There is no way to describe how this dynamic duo inspired and changed lives as channels of the Holy Spirit in the community around them. Mary Alice is so gentle, humble, loving and generous and will never stop interceding for us from Our heavenly Father’s lap. She will be a part of every mass, rosary, chaplet, worship song and tea party because this is what she loved and now she is not bound by time and space. She has graduated to her heavenly reward with honors. She has become a permanent place in the hearts of those she loves and we will never forget her. We will continue her work of drawing souls to The Holy Trinity and Blessed Mother until we are together again. We love you Mary Alice and thank God for your shining example!
God must have had a dire need for someone like Mary, to call her back home. Let us put our trust and faith in Him and honor her memory and legacy by trying to live a life she would be proud of. Dear heavenly Father, please take care of Mary’s soul and spirit and hold her close to you, as she held You close to her heart, ever faithful. And please help your humble servant Deacon Rafael through this difficult time of mourning, fill the aching space in his heart with your Love and Faith, so he could continue guiding and educating the rest of your flock. His heart must be heavy now, so help us lift up his spirit and let him know he is surrounded by people who love him and look up to him. Please take off some of his burden and pain, and place it upon My shoulders, I can carry a little more.
Mary Alice,
You are not only a God fearing woman, stalwart Mother, and soulmate for Raf, but also a witness of Faith to your loving community. Your memory lives on in all of the souls whose lives you touched along the path, ours included. Thanks for leading the way. Godspeed,
Mike and Ann Hadro
Rest In Peace, Mary Alice. Your kindliness and friendliness shined through every instance I knew you. God bless you and your family. I am very sorry for their loss.
I knew Mary Alice as a friend at All Saints, who always greeted you with that wonderful welcoming smile. Yes, you could see the Holy Spirit in her. My regret is I did not get to know her better before they moved to Front Royal. It was always delightful to see her and Deacon Ralph when they came to visit in Manassas. I know for certain God and the loving Blessed Mother welcomed her to her heavenly reward with open arms. A beautiful lady and a beautiful soul who will be missed by many. Rest in Eternal peace, Mary Alice.
We feel truly blessed to have called Mary Alice a friend. She was a most kind, sincere person who loved Our Lord, and her faith. We will miss her beautiful smile and her gentle spirit.
May God be with Deacon Rafael and her family, and give them strength during this very difficult time in their lives.
Mary Alice was a childhood “cousin” and we were blessed to grow up very close together as my mother, Veronica, was her mother’s Fister sister. We spent a great deal of significant time with the large Grunenwald family. It is from them that I learned the joys of large-family life. Alice was a delightful girl. We shared so much life as we grew up in the 50s and 60s as active (sometime mischievous) youngsters. We shared happy times and some profoundly sad times. In her family home, Faith always was strong. We shared Elementary School at St Edwards and High School at Ursuline. Oh, the cherished memories. After i married Jon Wertzler and we moved to Appalachia, Mary Alice was kind to say yes to be the God-mother to our first-burn son, Brian. My sister, Cyndi, kept me posted that Alice prayed for him daily over 50 years as he, too, leads a military life that has taken him into a career of service. This endearing perpetual silent yet strong bond has been sustaining over the years in ways only God knows. We have no doubt that Alice is in Heaven. We are tender for Ralph as he has lost his soul-mate on earth. Our hearts go out to the children and grandchildren. We had hoped to visit Alice and Ralph in the Spring and introduce a young set of cousins as they relocate to the DC area. We shall see what Path God sets forth. Alice will be in my heart. The years flew bye as we raised our families and ministered to others …. and there was always the intention to “get together”. Mary Alice is forever beloved and cherished. Her Faith is a beacon of hope and source of encouragement and inspiration. In these unprecedented times, the sting of loss rips at us, awakening our heightened awareness of God’s live and mercy. I am thankful, grateful that Mary Alice lived. She lived a full life. I was humbly blessed to know her and be loved by her, if only from afar through daily prayer. I do not know how to say goodbye. She has transcended to Heaven. How amazing is that! She is missed. She will always be missed. Yet, she lives in eternal peace, resting with Jesus and His Mother Mary and her mom, Rita, and dad, Charles, and sister Annie and brother Paul and more. Amen. Ready in peace, dear Alice. This week, Heaven gained a Saint.
Mary Alice positively touched the lives of so many people, including mine. I met Mary Alice when we both volunteered to sell Car Raffle tickets after Mass at All Saints, oh so many years ago. We continued to serve together when she led the Welcoming Committee and later Donut Sundays. I fondly remember the many conversations we had over the phone and over lunch and after Mass as well as her infectious smile and laugh. She lived her life to do the will of God and to be His faithful servant, and Heaven gained a beautiful soul when He called her home. Even though our contact with each other has lapsed in recent years, I have thought about my dear sister in Christ often. I will miss knowing she is here on earth, but I will still smile every time I think about her. I lift up Ralph, her children and grandchildren in prayer that they are immeasurably strengthened, encouraged and blessed in the days to come while we all remember and celebrate her life.