Grace Updegrove Pirog, formerly of Boyertown, PA and a resident of William Penn Villas (Limerick, PA) since 2001, passed away Monday, July 7th, at Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital in East Norriton, PA.
Grace was born in Montreal, Canada on Oct. 20, 1933, the daughter of Frank and Constance Updegrove.
She graduated from Boyertown High School in 1951 and Kutztown University in 1955 where she earned a B.A in Art.
Grace started her career in elementary education in the late 1950s as an elementary art teacher for the Boyertown area school district. Later in the 1960s, she was a kindergarten teacher at North Coventry Elementary School of the Owen J. Roberts School District until 1979.
After retiring from teaching, Grace owned and operated three small businesses. The first, a handmade pin business (Pins by GUM) which ended in the early 1980s. Next, in 1986 she opened a picture framing business which operated out of her house first before moving to E. Phila. Ave., Boyertown in 2001(Gracefully Framed) until 2012, when the shop closed for good. There after she continued to use her artistic skills with her online business “Your Home in Miniature”. She ran all companies with her husband Anthony.
In her leisure time she enjoyed ceramics, cross stitching, reading, puzzles, painting and spending time with her friends and family. Grace was active in civic affairs as a member of the Junior Woman’s Club of Boyertown, Build a Better Boyertown and volunteered her time at the Boyertown Area Multi-Service. In 2005 Grace was chosen for the Bear Fever Project to participate as one of the area artists. This community-wide art project features life-sized, fiberglass bear sculptures decorated by local artists. The bears showcase the diverse artistic talent within the Boyertown community and offer a unique way to experience art in public spaces. The bear (The Dutch Bear) that she designed and painted can be found today at 101 E. Phila. Ave., Boyertown, PA. Her mission was “to spread a little PA Dutch history. “
She is survived by her husband Anthony H. Pirog, whom she was married to for 50 years, one brother Bruce Updegrove and his wife Lynne Updegrove of Boyertown, PA, her daughter Beth Ann (Bernhart) Webb and her Husband David Lyon who resides in Ellicott City, MD and her son Michael William Moeller and his wife Kimberly Ann who lives in Gilbertsville, PA. She has 5 grandchildren: William Edward Webb, and his wife Lorraine (Jabine) Webb, Caitlin Elizabeth (Webb)Sullivan and her husband Brendan Sullivan, Ian Sheffield Webb, Peter William Moeller and Alexander Michael Moeller. 4 great grandchildren: Rory Thomas Sullivan, Verity Elizabeth Sullivan, Charlotte Grace Sullivan and Finley Mae Sullivan.
Services will be held privately.