Grace Anita Dessecker

Grace Anita Dessecker, 89, of New Philadelphia, died Friday, July 25, 2008 in New Dawn Retirement Community at Dover.A daughter of the late James and Idella (Everhart) Freshwater, Grace was born November 22, 1918 at New Philadelphia, Ohio.She was a 1937 graduate of New Philadelphia High School and on March 24, 1940, Grace married Donald A. Dessecker. The couple raised four children, Darryl, Samuel, Beverly and Rick. Don passed away on June 5, 2002.Grace was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church at New Philadelphia where she was in the choir and a member of the Martin Luther Sunday School class.She is survived by her children, Darryl (Linda) Dessecker of Hiddenite, North Carolina, Samuel (Sally) Dessecker of Mentor, Ohio, Beverly (Robert) Wilcoxon of Mineral City and Rick Dessecker of Columbus, Ohio; eight grandchildren, Kenny (Lisa) Dessecker, Samantha (Shane) Schmitt, Andrew Dessecker, Diane (Billy) Sprinkle, Shelly (Michael) Brown, Doug (Jenny) Dessecker, Craig Wilcoxon and Shannon Wilcoxon; nine great grandchildren; a sister, Susan Renner of Dover and two brothers, Lester Freshwater of New Philadelphia and Thad Freshwater of Dover.Grace was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don; an infant son; two sisters and three brothers.Family and friends may call on Sunday, July 27, 2008 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service celebrating Grace’s life will be held on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Chapel with Pastor Steven Patrick officiating. Burial will follow in Ridgecrest Memory Gardens at Dover. Following the committal service, a memorial reception will be held in the Geib Family Center at New Philadelphia.Those wishing to do so may send the family a personal condolence and view an online memorial by visiting the funeral home website.Contributions may be made in Grace’s memory to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 202 East High Avenue, New Philadelphia, OH 44663 or to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 West Third Street, Dover, OH 44622.