08/29/2025
Grace Cheff Obituary
September 14, 1931 - August 20, 2025
Grace Cheff died peacefully on August 20th at the age of 93, in Oroville, CA.
Grace is survived by her sons Stuart (Haeyoung), and Steven (Betty), and grandchildren Katie, Jonathan, Ellie, Noah, and Jonah. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, William “Bill” Cheff, her grandson, Joseph, and her seven siblings Art, Bessie, Dean, Bert, Pike, Rollin, and Bell.
Grace was born in Santa Cruz, California, the youngest of eight children. She was always very proud of the fact that her five older brothers all signed up and served in WWII. She moved to Oroville during the war when her dad began running the boilers at the Oroville Cannery.
Grace began her working career at age thirteen picking prunes. After that, she spent summers at the cannery testing tomatoes for microbes, lifeguarding at Bedrock Park and teaching swimming. She even was a telephone operator from 1949-50. Grace graduated from Oroville High School in 1949, earned a teaching credential from Chico State University in 1954, and remained in Oroville for the remainder of her life. She began teaching in Oroville elementary schools in 1955 and retired in 1991. Grace loved teaching, her students, and the camaraderie of the fantastic teachers she worked with during her career in Oroville.
Grace and Bill loved their annual trip to Santa Cruz, camping, and spending time at Lake Madrone with their close family friends the Walshs, Ricketts, Burnams, Wilsons, and many others. Grace loved attending local sporting events and cheering on her ‘kids’ that she had taught through the years. In Oroville, Maine or wherever she traveled, Grace was passionate about antiquing. Grace also loved gardening; you could find her out on the deck potting plants on any given day.
After retirement, Bill and Grace enjoyed traveling with friends and
spending precious time with their grandchildren in California and Maine. She relished the annual holiday visits to see Stu and his family. She cherished the years they owned a home in Maine, where she knew almost every antique dealer and auctioneer in Penobscot County, and loved watching her grandkids ice hockey games, eating lobster, and watching the fall leaves.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Kim Bone, both a caregiver and friend, who was devoted to caring for Grace during the last years of her life, Marc Walsh, Jenny Schmautz, and their families for always going above and beyond for Grace and her family. Finally, she was blessed to have a group of wonderful friends who depending, on the situation, were called the therapy group, houseboat gals, or Bunco girls.
A private burial service was held at the cemetery on August 26th. A Celebration of Life for Bill and Grace and the gang will be held in 2026; the date is still to be determined.
Arrangements entrusted to Ramsey Funeral Home. (530) 534-3877
https://ramseyfuneralhomes.com/tribute/details/5545/Grace-Cheff/obituary.html -start
