Grace Anita Eiler

Grace Anetia McIlrath Eiler November 23, 1924 - September 9, 2020 Grace realized her need for a Savior early in life and at a young age accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord. She lived a Christ honoring life and was a godly wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was loved by everyone who knew her. Grace had a great talent for making things beautiful. Her gardens were breath taking, and she took great joy in creating these beautiful spaces along with her friends and neighbors. She loved her neighbors and loved living at O'Hara Woods. Anyone who stopped at Grace's home was always offered a cup of coffee and a sweet treat or even lunch. She often made a warm bowl of soup for sick friends. Grace was the third child of seven - Mary, Betty, Grace, Hannah, John, Jay, and Robert, all born in Pittsburgh, PA - to John and Anetia (Aber) McIlrath. She was the last surviving sibling. She had a large immediate and extended family, many of whom were missionaries. Family gatherings were always full of fun, laughter and many adventurous stories from the foreign mission fields. These gatherings usually ended with everyone kneeling for prayer until they met again. After high school and during World War II, Grace worked in the office at Ingalls Iron Works where she met her love, William Eiler and was married on June 14, 1952. She also worked at Rytheon and was involved in the manufacturing of the earliest computers. She was a hard worker and was very proud of all that she accomplished during her career while raising two daughters, Sally, born in 1956 and Susie in 1959. She was blessed with her first granddaughter, Sarah Grace Allison in 1981. Her joy only increased with each grandchild to follow - Philip, Jonathan, Charlie, Hannah, Skyler, and Timothy. God then blessed her with great-grandchildren - Grace, Abbie, William, Silas, Rusty, Anna, Lincoln, Gideon, Ira, Henry, Abraham, Olivia Grace, and Juniper. Grace had the gift of mercy and was known to go anywhere help was needed. She truly was everyone's "nurse". She could sooth most any illness and always seemed to know just how to give comfort. Her touch could quiet any crying baby by rocking and singing "His eye Is on the sparrow and I know he watches me." Without doubt God was the foundation of her life, and she believed he controlled every aspect of it. Her love for Christ grew as each year passed, and she learned to lean on him during both good times and difficult times. She could often be heard saying, "Thank the Lord for another beautiful day!" Memorial donations can be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation.